Theme is "Unbridled Spirit...Beauty Unbound"

Contact: Eva Smith-Carroll or Sara Evans 502-564-6716

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 9, 2006) - The 8th annual Commonwealth Cleanup Week will be March 19-25.  The 1998 Kentucky General Assembly designated the fourth week in March as an opportunity for Kentuckians to participate in “activities that highlight the natural beauty of their communities.”

The theme for this year’s activities is “Unbridled Spirit…Beauty Unbound.”

Nonprofit organizations that conduct cleanup activities in local communities are eligible to win cash prizes. Organizations must register through their local solid waste coordinator and complete a cleanup project to be eligible for the $1,500, $1,000 and $500 prizes, which will be awarded by random drawing.

Winners of a poster contest for grades K-12 will receive $500 for the classroom or library of their choice. The contest deadline was Feb. 3.

Commonwealth Cleanup Week activities are coordinated by the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet’s Division of Waste Management.  In 2005, more than 31,000 Kentuckians collected more than 89,600 bags of trash from 3,652 miles of road and cleaned 88 dumps.  The division’s goal is to increase the number of participants joining in this year’s efforts by 25 percent.

Additional information including the nonprofit group participation form and a list of solid waste coordinators is available by going online to the division’s Web site www.waste.ky.gov or by calling 502-564-6716 or e-mailing waste.ky.gov