For the second consecutive year the Mad River Valley towns Green Up Committees are collaborating to make the most of the effort. They are coordinating their efforts under the banner of the Mad River Valley Green Valley Rally.

Vermont’s annual Green Up Day takes place on Saturday,May 4, 2024 with the Green Valley Rally being the epicenter for all activities here in the MRV. It will take place at the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center (at the corner of Routes 100 and 17) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. People can stop by to pick up Green Up bags, morning snacks, and roadside assignments. People will also have the chance to learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Friends of the Mad River, stewardMRV, and Valley knotweed eradication programs.

Event Timeline

• 8 – 10 am             Bag Pick-up & Breakfast Treats
• 8 am -2 pm         Can and Bottle Drop Off (see deets below)
• Noon to 2 pm    MRV Steward Organizations Volunteer Job Fair|
• Noon to 2 pm     BBQ for Green Up Day Volunteers
• Bag Drop Offs     Bring Your Green Bags to Earthwise Santiation’s Waitsfield Transfer Station. They are open on the Saturday of Green Up Day from 8 am to 2 pm

GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
Vermont’s Green Up Day coordinators are working to set a world record for The Most Pledges Received to Clean in 24 Hours ” We need to sign up 5,000 Vermonters to set the record VT Top to Bottom Green Up  – From Canada to Massachusetts – Green Up Vermont is organizing the longest litter pick up team ever.”
• 223 miles from North Troy to Stamford – 446 if we go North & South
• Volunteers start at every mile mark
• Route complete in about one hour

GREEN UP DAY BOTTLE DRIVE
Organizers are asking all Green Up Day volunteers to separate clean(ish) refundable cans found along the roadsides this year. They will provide separate clear bags for these cans and ask that people bring the bags back to the Welcome Center. They can also bring refundable cans and bottles back to the tent. Organizers will redeem the cans and donate all funds to the Mad River Valley Interfaith Council, which serves neighbors in need.

VOLUNTEER JOB FAIR
Starting at noon and running through 2 p.m. there will be a BBQ for Green Up Day and stewardMRV volunteers. During that time there will also be a stewardMRV volunteer job fair. People can learn more about other conservation and stewardship opportunities. Representatives from various local organizations involved in stewardship in The Valley will be on hand to share information about volunteer opportunities. Those interested can look into becoming a stewardMRV site steward, a Friends of the Mad River Watch volunteer, a Mad River Path volunteer or even help out with the Mad River Valley Recreation District.

Wasted Portalet Demo
Check out the new Wasted portalets that will be used at stewardMRV sites around the MRV this year. There will also be a sample of the Wasted Off-Grid toilets we will be testing out this season.

TIRE RECYCLING
The Mad River Resource Management Alliance (MRRMA) is collecting tires at the Earthwise Transfer Station on Green Up Day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those who find a tire along a roadside can bring it to the transfer station for recycling free of charge. To recycle personal tires, the MRRMA will process those (with or without rims) for $5 each.

VOLUNTEER BBQ
There will be a BBQ for all Green Up day volunteers to come celebrate our collective efforts. The grill will be lit starting at noon!

For more Green Up Day information contact:

• Waitsfield: Bri Skoldberg, briskoldberg@gmail.com, 802-829-0878
• Fayston: Patty Pasley, plpasley@gmail.com, 802-825-1893
• Warren: Warren Town Office, clerk@warrenvt.org, 802-496-2709
• Moretown: Mike Dimotsis, dimotsisjane@gmail.com, 802-469-2812
• Swim Holes, Onome Ofoman, onome@friendsofthemadriver.org

Participating Mad River Valley Organizations

Friends of the Mad River
Green Up Vermont
Green Up Day Coordinators Coordinators
Mad River Riders
Mad River Valley Planning District
Mad River Path
Mad River Valley Bear Initiative
Mad River Valley Knotweed Initiative
Mad River Valley Planning District
stewardMRV
Towns of Fayston, Waitsfield and Warren
Trout Unlimited