Get involved with Spruce and help keep Cary clean and forever green!  Spruce is a volunteer-based program designed to connect citizens to beautification, litter reduction, and environmental service projects in our community.

Adopt a Spot

NEW! The Adopt a Spot program has officially launched! Learn more.

Stake your claim to an area of town and play a role in preserving the beauty and health of our community.  Find program details and applications here.

Upcoming Events

2012 Events

3rd Annual Compost Giveaway
March 10, 2012
9 a.m.-noon, Garmon Operations Center, 400 James Jackson Ave.

While supplies last, Cary residents can bring solid plastic containers, ranging in size from 18 gallons to 32 gallons, to be filled with nutrient-rich compost for free. Please note, compost will not be distributed into bags. Residents using pickup trucks and open trailers will be placed in an express lane to receive their free compost directly into their vehicle. Residents only, no commercial interests please.

This organic matter supports better soil moisture levels and amends your soil’s biodiversity, which can lead to savings on water bills and synthetic fertilization costs. Whether you sprinkle compost on the surface of your lawn and garden or you work it into your soil before you plant, adding compost is one of the best ways to green up your landscape the natural way. Call (919) 469-4301 or email sarah.justice@townofcary.org with questions regarding the giveaway or in case of inclement weather.

Plant a Tree for Arbor Day
March 17, 2012
10-11:30 a.m. at Cary Town Hall, 316 N. Academy St.

Spruce volunteers will plant an honorary dogwood tree at Town Hall on March 17. Citizens are encouraged to join us from 10-11:30 a.m. to pot their own free dogwood tree to take home. Our Certified Arborist will be on hand to teach about appropriate tree and site selection as well as proper tree planting techniques. For more information, call (919) 469-4301 or email sarah.justice@townofcary.org.

Electronics and Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
May 19, 2012
8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Garmon Operations Center, 400 James Jackson Ave.

Start gathering your old electronic equipment and household hazardous waste for a special collection event. The Town of Cary and Wake County are partnering to provide a "one-stop-drop" opportunity for citizens correctly dispose of these items. View the list of acceptable and unacceptable items.

2012 Volunteer Opportunities

The following events are open for volunteers to join. Registration is required for all workdays, call (919) 469-4301 or email spruce@townofcary.org for quick and easy registration or for additional details. All ages are welcome to participate unless otherwise indicated, volunteers under 14 must have proper adult supervision.

Spring Litter Sweep
(Multiple Town wide locations, time TBD)

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather, sunshine and fresh air with fellow citizens as we keep our community litter free at our annual Spring Litter Sweep!  You can join us at one of our Town-sponsored locations or you can identify a location of your choice; such as a greenway, park, or area of your neighborhood.  We welcome teams, businesses, church groups, scouting groups, and even individuals who wish to make a difference in our environment by reducing litter through the Spruce Program.  The Town provides all volunteers with the bags, gloves, safety vests, and trash grabbers.  Cary’s Spring Litter Sweep is our local effort to participate in a state-wide initiative, the Big Sweep.  Register by calling (919) 469-4301 or emailing sarah.justice@townofcary.org.

Past Success

Spruce has started off the year 2012 with a bang at our Martin Luther King National Day of Service Event in January at Middle Creek Community Center with a record number of 256 volunteers donating their time and energy to spread 144 cubic yards of mulch and sweep the facility for litter. 

The October 2011 Fall Litter Sweep was a huge success with 213 volunteers giving over 639 hours of their time to keep our community clean and forever green. Volunteers collected more than 6,140 pounds of litter. The November 2011 America Recycles Day event also had strong participation. With 491 citizens participating in the recycling of 14,280 pounds of shredded paper! 

Program Details

Spruce initiatives will include biannual town-wide litter sweeps, Adopt-a-Spot opportunities, garden projects, tree plantings, outdoor improvement projects in public places and neighborhood-scale sweeps. 

The Spruce program is a way for citizens, civic and religious groups, neighborhoods, churches, businesses and schools to work together to have a direct, positive impact on our environment.  We welcome participation on large and small scales. From town-wide litter sweeps to smaller neighborhood projects, Spruce is designed to support your efforts to keep our community clean and forever green. Know of a project you’re interested in starting to Spruce up your neighborhood?Please contact us to get a project started.

Links

NC Keep America Beautiful
NC Department of Transportation Office of Beautification

Contact

Sarah Justice
Conservation Specialist-Volunteer Coordinator
Public Works and Utilities Department
P.O. Box 8005
Cary, NC 27512-8005
(919) 469-4301
sarah.justice@townofcary.org