Green Awareness Week in Gary April 18-24

Contributed By:The 411 News

The City of Gary and its partners will be celebrating Earth Day with a week of “Environmental Stewardship” activities starting April 17 – 24, 2021.

"We're excited to offer a full slate of activities for Green Gary Week,” said Mayor Jerome Prince. “We all know how important it is to protect our environment. Our Office of Sustainability & Environmental Affairs has done an amazing job working with other teams in the City to provide our residents with the tools, techniques and information they need to really make a positive difference for all of us."

City departments, businesses, community organizations, faith-based groups, educational institutions, block clubs and other volunteers are encouraged to participate in this city-wide appreciation and celebration of our natural resources.

This Saturday April 17th, the Gary Urban Farmers Initiatives will commence its second graduating class; and the Decay Devils will conduct a community cleanup at Gateway Park and Union Station.

The week of activities will also include self-guided walking tours, neighborhood cleanups, Buchanan Street Green Gateway groundbreaking, climate action planning webinar, bird watching tours, urban forestry park planning webinar, recycling webinar, nature scavenger hunt, environmental women of Gary presentation, urban agriculture pollinator presentation, tree planting and rain barrel sale. Please share nature photo selfies of your contribution toward a #GreenerGary2021.

The City’s Office of Sustainability, the Gary Storm Water Management District, and the Recycling Department will additionally partner with the Lake Michigan Districts Household Hazardous Waste Program and the Lake County Solid Waste Management District to host Household Hazardous Waste Collection in the city of Gary.

This year’s Green Awareness Day will be held on Saturday, April 24th, 2021. During the Household Hazardous Waste Collection event, residents may dispose of items like outdated medications, cleaning agents, oil-based paint, chemicals, medical needles, household batteries, carpet cleaner, fluorescent bulbs, shoe polish, pet supplies, etc. As chemicals are hazardous to our water, our land and our health, residents are urged not to throw chemicals out with regular household trash, flush down the toilet or drains.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be open from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at 455 Massachusetts Street; the Hudson-Campbell Parking Lots. Environmental Information Bags, Tire Disposal, Recycle Bins, Paper Shredding, Small Engine Gas Can Exchange, Refreshments and more are among the free services offered on HHW/Green Day.

Residents may volunteer to assist with the city’s cleanup effort by cleaning out and properly disposing of hazardous materials around their homes. Community groups can even collect old tires, computers, cell phones and other electronics for proper disposal.

Please do not bring business, commercial or schools’ hazardous waste, explosives, medical waste, narcotic prescription drugs or radioactive materials.

A complete list of items accepted at HHW/Green Day is attached, along with info on the FREE Gas Can Exchange and Rain Barrel purchases.

For more information about HHW/Green Day, contact the City of Gary Office of Sustainability & Environmental Affairs at 219-882-3000.


Household Hazardous Waste Front


Household Hazardous Waste Back


Gas Can Exchange


Rain Barrel

Story Posted:04/16/2021