NCA annual Clean-Up Day coming up

It's that "Spring Cleaning" time of year again, and the Niwot Community Association (NCA) is hosting its annual Clean-Up Day event as it has for over 20 years. Clean-Up Day will again be held from 8 a.m.-12 noon at the Niwot High School parking lot on Saturday, May 18.

This event is free to all NCA members who have renewed their annual dues. Non-members can also drop off a standard pickup or trailer load of accepted materials for a $40 fee. Patrons living in the area are encouraged to join the NCA to reduce their cost, get involved, and receive the NCA newsletter.

The best time to arrive is "any time between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.," according to John Barto, who has organized the event for many years. "There is plenty of dumpster capacity and it helps with traffic flow to not have everyone there right at the start. However, if you have very large items, it's best to get there sooner than later to make sure we can fit in those singular, oversized things."

This year, some changes have been made to what will be accepted.

Accepted items this year include electronics (which may have an additional fee), yard waste, metals for recycling, styrofoam, paint (latex and oil, which is new this year), and mattresses. Newly accepted materials this year are tires, bicycles, and bike parts. "Bicycles and parts are recycled and repaired for redistribution and those in need through Community Cycles [based out of Boulder]," added Barto.

Materials that will not be accepted include household garbage, animal waste, batteries, CFL/ fluorescent tubes, refrigerators and freezers, air conditioners, construction debris (drywall, construction lumber, decking, anything with nails in it), cardboard and aluminum (please take it to the recycling center on 79th St.), glass and mirrors (for the safety of volunteers), and motorized equipment with oil or gas.

This year the NCA is teaming-up with Wildfire Partners and their chipping program. While tree material won't be chipped at the event itself, it will be collected and chipped off-site. This new effort comes from the NCA 2024 objective to help with wildfire mitigation for the community of Niwot.

Clean-Up Day is entirely volunteer-run, giving groups the opportunity to engage with the community. Groups in the past who have helped with the event include the Scouts of Troop 161, the Niwot High School band and drumline, the Rotary Club of Niwot, and members of the NCA. Individuals can also sign-up to volunteer by visiting the NCA website or email [email protected].

While this event is free to NCA members who have paid their annual dues, NCA members with more than two standard pickup bed or trailer loads can expect a $25 fee for any additional loads. Larger LCD and tube TVs are $20 each (small electronics and monitors are free). Box springs or mattresses are $10 each.

"I love running this event," Barto said. "It's a great opportunity to help the community and I get to do it with a great group of people on my team every year. We raise funds to put on great town events and I get to see familiar faces of those who drive through, and meet new people every year."

The NCA serves as a liaison between the unincorporated community of Niwot and Boulder County. Membership fees also help pay for many fun town events such as the annual Fourth of July celebration in Niwot, the Slepicka Tractor Show, National Night Out, and the Veteran's Banner Celebration.