By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A pair of environmentally friendly activities coincide this weekend in the River Parishes as the St. John Clean Sweep and the tri-parish household hazardous materials collection day both take place Saturday.

The fourth annual Clean Sweep, sponsored by the Keep St. John Beautiful Committee, is a parishwide clean-up day involving many government agencies, neighborhood associations, civic groups, schools and churches. The event begins at 8 a.m. at Highway 51 Park, where supplies will be distributed to clean-up teams. Supplies can also be picked up in advance Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the Percy Hebert Building in LaPlace.

Parish spokesperson Paige Braud said education materials, automobile litterbags and T-shirts will be distributed to create awareness during the clean up. The event emphasizes recycling and litter enforcement. It also hopes to raise awareness of abandoned buildings in the parish in need of demolition.

Braud said supervised inmate crews from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office will focus on drainage canals and major roadways, while smaller neighborhood groups and civic organizations focus on neighborhood streets, parks and other areas of the parish. Parish President Natalie Robottom said about 80 different groups with more than 300 total participants have already signed up for the event.

“Support for our beautification efforts is needed from residents and businesses parishwide,” Robottom said. “We encourage local business owners to join us and beautify their store fronts.”

Following the clean-up event, free food, refreshments and music will be provided at Highway 51 Park around 10:30 a.m. in appreciation of the volunteer work.

Groups may still sign up for the Clean Sweep through the parish office. Interested participants should contact Dana Milioto at 985-652-9569 or visit www.sjbparish.com to sign up.

Also on Saturday, St. John, St. James and St. Charles parishes will be conducting a Household Hazardous Materials Collection Day starting at 9 a.m. at two locations in the region. Materials can be dropped off at the LaPlace Plaza Shopping Center, 1921 Airline Highway, LaPlace, or at the Jerusalem Shriners Hall, 1940 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan.

The locations will be accepting paints, solvents, automotive batteries, motor oil, antifreeze, household cleaners and chemicals, used oil, antifreeze, pesticides, flammable materials, corrosives, medications, tires (limit 5 per person), fluorescent tubes and bulbs pesticides, herbicides and scrap metal. This year, they will accept used electronics such as used computers, copiers, printers, radios, TVs and other electronic devices.

For more information email hotline@hhmcd. com or visit www.hhm cd.com.