Close to 20 volunteers gathered near Silver Lake Park for the monthly cleanup hosted by the Croton Litter-Free Education Advocacy Neighborhood (CLEAN) initiative on Saturday, June 6. The event, focused on a decades-old dumpsite, yielded an estimated record-breaking 1,500 pounds of recovered debris and litter from the sensitive environmental areas surrounding the park and the Croton River. Car batteries, auto parts, a broken toilet and countless glass items were among those removed from the area.
The cleanup highlights the threat that illegal dumping and roadside litter pose to local waterways and native wildlife. Saturday’s effort, with a mix of repeat volunteers, Croton-Harmon High School students and concerned neighbors, is also a milestone for the grassroots initiative, which has steadily increased its impact since it was founded by former CAC member Anthony Magardino in 2021.
“Silver Lake is a treasure that demands our protection. CLEAN’s record haul symbolizes our village’s grassroots commitment to environmental protection. This culture of care is reflected in our village’s long-standing Tree City USA designation and our status as New York’s No.1 Clean Energy Community. Thank you to the CAC, CLEAN, and every volunteer who helped turn our shared values into action,” said Brian Pugh, Mayor.
“We all love Silver Lake, and it’s our responsibility to take good care of it. The Croton River is one of the treasures of our area, and I want to thank the volunteers who worked so hard to remove so much junk from the precious river ecosystem. The sheer volume reminds us how easily trash can end up in a waterway,” said Eva Thaddeus, Chair of the Conservation Advisory Council.
“When CLEAN was launched, the goal was to build a reliable infrastructure for community stewardship and back it up with consistent education, so clean-ups are no longer necessary. To see the initiative hit 1,500 pounds shows just how deeply our residents care about keeping Croton pristine. It’s inspiring to see this momentum grow month after month, but clearly there’s a lot left to do” said John Ealer, former CAC Chair and founding member of CLEAN.
“This historic haul is an incredible achievement for CLEAN and a sobering reminder of the constant pressure on our environment. Serving as the liaison to the CAC, I see firsthand the dedication it takes to organize these cleanups. Thank you to John Ealer and all the volunteers who are protecting our community’s natural beauty and our DPW that are keeping Croton clean every day. I encourage anyone who hasn’t yet joined us to check all the work the CAC does to protect the environment, from CLEAN to the Trails Crew to the Garden Club,” said Trustee Nora Nicholson, Village Board liaison to the CAC.
The Croton Litter-Free Education Advocacy Neighborhood initiative (CLEAN) is a volunteer sub-committee of the Croton-on-Hudson Conservation Advisory Council. Dedicated to environmental preservation, community education, and civic pride, CLEAN organizes monthly volunteer efforts from March through November, supplying residents with high-visibility vests and disposal bags to remediate litter hotspots. The CAC also hosts the Trails Crew and the Garden Club subcommittees, which are also active in maintaining the natural beauty of the village.
Community members interested in volunteering for upcoming events, tracking progress, or suggesting future cleanup locations are encouraged to visit the dedicated program page at https://www.crotononhudson-ny.gov/CLEAN.
