The 7th annual Commonwealth Cleanup Week gets started this weekend in Bell County.

The Bell County Solid Waste transfer station will be open until 3 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday, March 26. Monday through Friday next week the station will be open until 5 p.m. daily. Bell County residents can dump trash collected as part of the clean up at the station free of charge. There will be a charge for building materials such as shingles, wood, lumber, sheetrock, etc., and for tires, gas tanks and carpet.

This year civic, religious and other nonprofit organizations that register through their local solid waste coordinators to cleanup a roadside or illegal dump receive an opportunity to win up to $1,500 in a cash prize drawing. The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet will give away three cash prizes, $1,500, $1,000 and $500.

Once the cleanup is completed, all participating agencies must fill out a form and return it to their solid waste coordinator to be eligible for prizes. When all forms are verified by solid waste coordinators and submitted to the Division of Waste Management, the cabinet will conduct the cash prize drawings.

Interested groups should pick up survey forms available at the Bell Solid Waste office at Page Cut-off, select a project, complete the project and submit the form back to the solid waste office.

The 1998 Kentucky General Assembly designated the fourth week in March as Commonwealth Cleanup Week. During Commonwealth Cleanup Week, Kentuckians are urged to help "spring clean" our state.

Unfortunately, Kentucky's beauty is tarnished by people who litter and dispose of trash illegally.

Progress has been made, but illegal dumps still mar our landscape. This trash does not make a good impression on tourists who visit and businesses that might consider locating in the Commonwealth. We need your help to make people aware of illegal dumps and other solid waste issues.

Commonwealth Cleanup Week has many sponsors including Bluegrass PRIDE, the solid waste coordinators and the local Keep America Beautiful chapter (see information about the Great American Cleanup at the KAB site), along with the Governor's Office, legislators, county and city officials, volunteer organizations and other state government entities.

Activities are open to volunteers of all ages. Individuals and groups can take part in improving the beauty and environmental health of our state.

The week is filled with opportunities for cleaning the Commonwealth. In the last six years hundreds of organizations have helped rid Kentucky of thousands of tons of trash.

For more information contact the Bell County solid waste coordinator at 337-7035, or contact the information officer at the Division of Waste Management: (502) 564-6716.