NCA Clean-Up Day record success

The Niwot Community Association's annual Clean-Up Day event, held May 18, was its most successful to date. There were 203 vehicles that attended (including those who made multiple trips). In the days leading up to the event, there were 13 membership dues paid (new and/or renewed) with an additional 24 on the day of the event. The NCA currently tracks 34 new members who have signed up this year with many who still have not renewed their membership.

New elements and accepted items that were incorporated this year helped significantly with the draw and attraction to the event. For over 20 years Clean-Up Day has regularly accepted yard waste, electronics, metal recycling, and difficult-to-dispose-of trash. This year, the addition of Wright Tree Service providing yard-debris chipping (in affiliation with Wildfire Partners), Community Cycles accepting old and unused bicycles, tire collection, and accepting oil-based paints drew many people to attend.

Sandee Cirian, Director of Marketing and Programs for Community Cycles, said that this was one of their highest-turnout events in terms of the number of donations made. "We attend around 20 events like this each year," said Cirian, "collecting anywhere between 10-50 bikes at each event."

Cirian said that when the bikes return to their shop in Boulder, their mechanics sort through them to see how they can be reused. Anything that can't be reused is stripped and recycled. "The bikes that are reusable are fully refurbished with new and used parts... [the bikes] either [go] to people in need or we sell them at our shops at affordable prices."

Several dumpsters provided by Western Disposal collected a large amount of old furniture and other trash. Rocky Mountain Recycling's dumpster was filled to the brim with metal recycling. By working with Wright Tree Service, a record amount of yard waste was dropped off to be taken away by the new partners of the NCA to be locally chipped and provided to nearby farmers.

"We usually fill up several dumpsters," said John Barto, NCA program manager for the event "but thanks to this new program we utilized, we were able to work towards the mission of WIldfire Partners to help make an effort of mitigation in wildfire prevention."

The NCA's addition of a social media manager resulted in accurate information and less confusion among the participants as up-to-the-minute information was posted on both Facebook and Instagram.

Barto further stated that the large success this year also came from volunteers from not only the NCA, but from community groups such as Scout Troop 161 as well as members of the Niwot High School drumline. "They not only bring great energy and enthusiasm to the event, but have such an incredible work ethic all day unloading peoples' vehicles," he said.

NCA membership dues not only provide people access to Clean-Up Day, as well as periodic direct emails with information that impacts the community (the NCA serves as the liaison to Boulder County government), but the dues also fund other events in town such as the 4th of July celebration and National Night Out in August, and allow the NCA to make donations. "The NCA is truly a non-profit [organization]," said President David Limbach, "with total assets remaining flat year-to-year."

When organizations like the Scouts or the NHS band volunteer to help the NCA, the NCA often makes a donation to reciprocate. "Both groups have had longevity volunteering," said Barto, "and we're happy to help them raise funds for new instruments, equipment, camping trips, etc."

Other partner groups that fundraise through NCA events include the NHS Key Club and Niwot Patriotic Cookie Moms. The NCA has also used membership dues to make grants to other local organizations such as the Niwot Historical Society, and contribute to improvement projects for the Left Hand Grange.

Barto observed that going forward, there is no "best time" to arrive at Clean-Up Day. "We have plenty of storage available and...the event runs the whole time from 8 a.m. to 12 noon." At noon, the event is closed and vehicles are no longer accepted, so the NCA asks people to arrive before 11:30 a.m. to ensure space in dumpsters and time to get people through the unloading process.