Community Roadside Litter Pick-Up Day

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When: Saturday, April 19
Who: You and your family and friends
Where: Pick any road you like in Charlestown to pick up roadside litter
What: The town is providing the blue bags starting April 11, and the transfer station and fire stations will accept them without charge on April 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There is a small group of people in our community, or those driving through Charlestown, who throw their drink and food containers out of their car windows. The result is an accumulation of litter along the roadsides.

There are many of you who already pickup roadside litter as you take an afternoon walk or you may continuously clean the litter tossed in front of your property. Litter Pick-up Day is a chance to get more people involved and raise awareness about this issue by offering free trash bags and free disposal for those who volunteer.

Tell your friends or organize a neighborhood pickup effort. Seeing people out picking up litter on April 19 might send a message to those who create the litter in the first place.

You can of course pick up litter at any time! April 19 will be an amnesty day for your blue bags of roadside litter at the transfer station.

A special thank you to Charlestown resident Warren Schwartz for bringing this great idea to the Town’s attention over eight years ago and for all his help throughout the years helping to organize the event.

Details on where to get the bags and more are below.

  • Blue bags can be picked up until April 18 at Town Hall, Quonnie Farms, Compass Hardware, and Rippy’s Liquor.
        • Town Hall: hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bags will be at the Town Clerk’s office.
        • Compass Hardware: 8 Ridgewood Road. Hours: Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. to Noon.
        • Quonnie Farms: 16 West Beach Road. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
        • Rippy’s Liquors: 4158 South County Trail
  • Wear bright colored clothing, such as blaze orange.
  • Wear work gloves to protect hands from potentially harmful items.
  • Please do not clean up or walk on Rt. 1 or any road you feel is unsafe.
  • Please drop off your bags on April 19 at the transfer station (50 Sand Hill Rd.) or at either of the three fire stations (4377 South Country Trail, 4258 Old Post Road, or 5664 Post Road).
    • If dropping off at a fire station, please leave bags in rear of station, near dumpster and please do not block the gate of the dumpster area.
    • If dropping off at transfer station, please leave bags in designated areas.
Visit Our “Trash Talk” Page For More On The Litter Issue

The banner image is a photo of thousands of nips collected from road side litter in 2023 from South Kingstown’s and other roads. Thanks to Pick Up South Kingstown for the image and who report that over 80,000 nips were collected in just 90 days.