Attention residents of the West Ward – it’s finally your turn to be a part of Trenton’s Citywide Cleanup!

On Wednesday, August 21st, community leaders gathered to kick off this weekend’s cleanup of Trenton’s West Ward, the final ward remaining in this year’s City Wide Cleanup. During the morning’s festivities, guests had the opportunity to hear from a number of notable speakers, including Honorable Mayor Reed Gusciora, Public Works Director Wahab Onitiri, Council President Crystal Feliciano, and West Ward Councilwoman Teska Frisby. In addition to appreciate for the city’s leadership, a great amount of thanks is also due to our city’s remarkable public works employees, who have been working tirelessly to provide city residents with a cleaner, greener community.

Mayor Reed Gusciora shared, “I’m here in the West Ward with the hardest working department in the city, Public Works. Today is the fourth week of our annual cleanup, where we will take bulk garbage from residents this Saturday. In the meantime, we will be cleaning up public spaces and alleyways throughout the West Ward.” Mayor Reed then went on to encourage Trentonians to do their part, help their neighbors, and assure to follow the rules and regulations for a smooth and successful pickup.

Per Council President Crystal Feliciano, who is also a West Ward resident herself, “The west side is the best side, so I am excited as we continue this cleanup effort throughout the city. Thank you to the administration for coming together. This is not just for form or fashion. We hope that this effort will increase, to happen more often than once a year. But now is the time – get it out, throw it out.” Continuing, she said “I’m excited and encouraged to hear just how much our West Ward residents have put outside. You know I love the whole city, but I am rooting for the West. So let’s get it done!”

West Ward Councilwoman Teska Frisby also shared, noting “We want our residents to live in the way that they should be. We’re the capital city. We deserve the best. Our residents deserve the best, and so that’s what we’re trying to get. But it has to be a collective. We have to do this together. It can’t be that we clean it up and then someone else doesn’t. If you see something, we need you to say something.” Councilwoman Frisby then urged Trenton residents to do their part in reporting illegal dumping and litter. If you are able to safely do so, if you witness unlawful dumping in your community, please be certain to take a photo and send it to your ward’s councilperson so that proper citations may be issued. Keeping our community clean is an all hands on deck initiative, and we need your help to aid in making our city the best it can be.

If you plan on participating in this weekend’s cleanup, be sure to abide by the rules and regulations to assure a smooth pickup process for all. West Ward residents are required to have all pickup items placed on the curb by no later than 7am the morning-of. While not required, however, participants are encouraged to place items on the curb the night before to prevent any needless delays. Please also be aware that this pickup is intended for household and yard debris, and items like electronic waste, hazardous materials, etc. will not be collected.

While the West Ward cleanup may be the final phase of this year’s city-wide initiative, the task of keeping Trenton clean and thriving is a job which requires year-round effort. From picking up the litter off your lawn to making sure your garbage is properly disposed of on trash day, there are small steps you and your neighbors can take to assure your block stays in tip-top shape no matter what season you’re in. For more information regarding scheduled bulk pickup, hazardous waste removal, and more, please contact the City of Trenton’s Department of Public Works, available at 609-989-3151. You can also learn more about available services on the City of Trenton’s website, linked here: City of Trenton. A brighter tomorrow begins with our decisions today, so be sure to do your part in creating a tidier Trenton for all!

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