Roll up those sleeves to tackle trash and beautify Burien with fellow community members during the city’s annual Clean Sweep on Saturday, April 20.

From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Burienites will be shredding confidential paperwork, picking up litter, eliminating graffiti, trimming shrubs, planting flowers and sweeping sidewalks. Clean Sweep was moved to a week earlier than in previous years to better coincide with Earth Day, which is on April 22 this year.

New this year, shred financial and other confidential paperwork at a great price while supporting local charities during Home Task’s Shred Day event from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The suggested donation for shredding the first box is $10, and $5 for each additional box, compared to typical fees of around $35 for a regular box.

All proceeds from Shred Day go to nonprofits, and some of them will be at the event. Boxes of paperwork can be left at Home Task before the shredding truck arrives. Home Task is located at 611 S.W. 152nd St., Burien.

During the 2012 Clean Sweep, more than 400 people eliminated over 8 tons of garbage from Burien’s streets, parks and commercial areas.

Volunteers will be rewarded for their efforts with breakfast, lunch and a chance to win prizes. The city of Burien and the Discover Burien Association present Clean Sweep. Waste Management is the event’s primary sponsor.

Participants are required to register and sign releases at the old Fire District Station No. 2 beginning at 8 a.m. on the day of Clean Sweep. The station is located at 15100 Eighth Ave. S.W. in downtown Burien.

After signing up, get energized with a continental breakfast courtesy of local businesses such as Prudential Northwest Realty, including juice contributed by Highline Medical Center.

Debra George, Discover Burien’s events manager, recommends that volunteers bring their own useful yard tools such as shovels, rakes, clippers and brooms. Highline Medical Center and the Law Offices of Linn, Schisel and DeMarco are providing a limited number of gloves, so participants should consider bringing their own work gloves. The El Dorado West Retirement Community is supplying safety vests for volunteers, and Les Schwab Tires is contributing trash bags.

Ivar’s and the Mark Restaurant & Bar will serve participants chowder and hot dogs for a well-earned lunch. Volunteers will receive tickets for a raffle of prizes, including a bicycle, courtesy of Fred Meyer and Collins Chiropractic.

Businesses in Burien’s main downtown area have the opportunity to dispose of unwanted items by leaving them in front of their respective buildings or in the alley before 9 a.m. April 20 for pickup. Please call Debra George in advance to arrange for removal. Call George if items are not hauled away by noon to let her know your location and she can arrange for pickup that day.

Discover Burien is a nonprofit organization that works on Burien’s economic development, promotion and education.
For more information, call the Discover Burien office at 206-433-2882, Debra George at 206-941-7199 or go online to www.discoverburien.com.