FITCHBURG — A crew of volunteers showed up in downtown Fitchburg on Saturday to pick up trash and try to clear the detritus of a particularly harsh winter, which wasn’t kind on a Main Street that’s in the middle of construction.
But a group of about 12 volunteers led by city officials including Ward 3 City Councilor Joe Bowen attacked the problem, dealing with a stiff wind, and helped make a difference.
Some people walked the street and sidewalks with yellow plastic bags and trash grabbers, and others, such as Bowen, manned leaf-blowers, trying to lift the sand and gravel from the sidewalks to make it more easier to stroll downtown.
Why would people spend a Saturday morning picking up trash downtown?
“Because we love Fitchburg,” said volunteer Jill Jenkins, who was out picking up trash.
Said volunteer Ben Peterson, “I’ve been in Fitchburg for years, I was born here. It’s just good to keep the community clean.”
But do the cleanups make much of a dent?
“Oh yeah, it’s definitely making a difference,” said Bowen.
“We always have trash to pick up, but some years are lighter than others,” Bowen said. “It’s mainly about the visibility, to help keep it clean.”
He said some of the theory behind the numerous cleanups is to encourage people to not throw out trash outside to begin with.
And once an area is all cleaned up, it looks nice, and that seems to help remind people not to disturb it by throwing out trash there, Bowen said.
“You don’t want to be the first person to litter,” on a newly cleaned up area of the city, he said.
“We’ve been doing this for 10 years and we get more and more people coming out to help,” Bowen said, saying he’s glad so many people care and want to attack the trash problem and make the city look good.
“We try to hit the most visible spots, the main roads so people coming to the city see we’re making an effort,” Bowen said.
Bowen said that the city has several official cleanups planned but he also organizes unofficial cleanups all spring.
He noted that Fitchburg has a group called Keep Fitchburg Beautiful, which is a subset of Keep Massachusetts Beautiful, which provides metal trash grabbers for volunteers to use in the cleanups, if they prefer that over using gloves or just their hands.
“People can come out every weekend and help,” Bowen said.
Included in the 2026 Fitchburg City Cleanups is a cleanup today, Sunday, April 12, from 9 to 12 p.m., in Ward 3, where the cleanup will be focused on the Rollstone and Electric Avenue roundabout, along with the Rollstone and 5th Mass Turnpike area.
Ward 3 Councilor Bowen is helping lead that effort, and volunteers are looking forward to tackling both areas together.
People are encouraged to bring brooms, shovels, blowers, yard waste bags, litter pickup supplies, work gloves or simply bring yourself.
City-sponsored cleanups
Sunday, April 12, from 9 to 12 p.m. — Ward 3 and Rollstone roundabout
Saturday, April 18, 8 a.m. to noon — 44 Wanoosnoc Road (near the Water Street-Bemis Road Dollar Store)
Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m. to noon — British American Club, Stanley Park, 1 Simonds Road
Saturday, May 2, a.m. to noon — Daniels Street Park
Saturday, May 9, a.m. to noon — High and Pleasant Street
People are asked to bring friends, work gloves and a helping hand. The city will provide bags, plastic gloves and disposal support. Coffee, donuts, a light lunch and refreshments will be provided by Salvation Army Fitchburg.
“Every bag filled, every sidewalk cleared and every patch of litter removed helps show pride in our city,” Mayor Sam Squailia said. “These events make a visible difference, and they remind all of us what we can accomplish when we work together.”
Officials said that home cleanouts are not accepted. LED and CRT TVs and monitors will be accepted for a $10 fee, and mattresses and box springs will be accepted for a $20 fee each.
For questions, contact the Health Department at 978-829-1870 or the Mayor’s Office at [email protected].
