What is Ship Shape Day?
Ship Shape Day is an annual spring event to clean up litter and trash from community streets, playgrounds, and beaches. The Scituate Beautification Commission organizes this weekend event with the help of the Department of Public works and the Scituate Police Department. Members of the community, who volunteer as much time as they choose, collecting trash on either Saturday or Sunday, do the clean up. Students earn Community Service credit for helping on Ship Shape Day.
Who can participate in Ship Shape Day?
Anyone who wants to rid the community of unsightly trash is welcome.
We have preschool groups, sport teams, and scout groups, as well as families and individuals of all ages who volunteer every year.
What do I need to do to participate?
The only thing you need to do is obtain special Ship Shape Day bags for the litter you pick up. Public Works employees will only collect these trash bags.
Where can I get special bags?
Volunteers are on hand between 8am and 1pm on Saturday in front of Town Hall (600 Chief Justice Cushing Highway – aka Route 3A) to hand out special bags and other supplies and suggest a clean up area.
What supplies are available?
We hand out special Ship Shape Day litter and recyclables bags and gloves. Also, “grabbers” are available for a deposit at Town Hall on Saturday between 8am – 1pm.
I live in Humarock. Can I get supplies nearer to me?
Yes. Special Ship Shape Day bags will be available in the Humarock Post Office lobby between 8:00 – 12:30 on Saturday. However, grabbers are only available to borrow at Scituate Town Hall on Saturday between 8 – 1.
Do I have to finish the cleanup by 1:00 on Saturday?
No, you can do it anytime, Saturday or Sunday. However, you need to pick up the special bags at Town Hall on Saturday between 8am – 1pm.
How do I get my grabber deposit back if I can’t return it by 1:00 on Saturday?
You can return your grabber to the DPW Engineering Office in Town Hall during normal business hours (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 – 4:45; Tuesday, 8:30 – 6:00 and Friday 8:30 – 11:45)
Can I choose a clean up area ahead of time?
Yes. Email us at: info@shipshapeday.org
Can I earn Community Service credit for participating in Ship Shape Day?
Absolutely, Yes. Students who want CS credit should coordinate with one of the officials during Ship Shape Day Distribution on Saturday at Town Hall between 8am – 1pm.
I want to organize some of my friends/neighbors to do a clean up. Can I pick up supplies for the group?
Yes. One person from the group can pick up all supplies. It’s helpful to let us know in advance where your group will be working. Email us at: info@shipshapeday.org
We want to start early Saturday before traffic builds along our route. Can I get bags ahead of time?
We will try to accommodate these requests. Email us at: info@shipshapeday.org
Our street has no sidewalk and narrow shoulders. I want to pick up litter but worry about traffic.
We have support from Scituate Police to insure the safety of our volunteers. A Police Officer can accompany you to slow traffic if you request one. However, it is important to coordinate the time you will be doing your cleanup with the Police Department. To organize this, email us at: info@shipshapeday.org
Why do I have to get special bags?
Town employees will only pick up the special Ship Shape Day bags from the side of the street. They are either green or orange and have Ship Shape Day printed on them.
Why are there two colors of bags?
The orange recycle bags are for recyclable materials that can be co-mingled at the Transfer Station:
- aluminum cans
- plastic bottles
- plastic jars, jugs, and tubs
- plastic take-out food containers (as long as they’re not black)
Green bags are for all other litter, which is sent to SEMASS where it is burned to create electric energy.
Do I have to use an orange recycle bag?
No. We encourage everyone to sort out the recyclable materials as they pick up litter, because recycling is better for the environment. However, if you don’t want to do this, we ask that you do not take an orange bag. Putting materials that are not appropriate for co-mingling into orange bags is harmful. When in doubt, trash should be put into a green bag.
Paper and glass are recyclable. Why can’t they be put into the orange recycle bag?
Unfortunately, paper and glass are handled separately by the refuse company and cannot be be co-mingled with aluminum and plastic. Paper litter and glass should be put into a green Ship Shape Day bag.
Can I keep deposit cans and bottles to turn in for the deposit?
Yes, definitely. This is another good way to recycle.
What should I do with large debris that is too big to put into a bag?
Large items should be pulled out to a street or, at beaches, to a parking area where they are accessible for pick up by Town trucks. If possible, they should be placed together with filled Ship Shape Day bags.
If you have any other questions, please email us at: info@shipshapeday.org
Ship Shape Day is sponsored by the SCITUATE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION and SCITUATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Thank you for your support of our community cleanup.