Litter Cleanup Event

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Who hasn’t seen a discarded facemask, gloves, or other PPE littering our neighborhoods, parks, and streets? In addition to the normal litter that we see every year, COVID-19 has resulted in an increase in protection equipment being improperly discarded and turning into litter. If an appropriate trash receptacle is not within 12 steps the average person will drop their trash to the ground creating litter. As we are now switching gloves and taking off disposable facemasks every time we leave the grocery store, this type of litter is adding up.

The Toledo area is seeing a revitalization. People are proud of Toledo and proud to live here. As we grow as a community though, it is becoming ever more important for us to take care of our communal spaces and communal resources. Toledo has a litter problem and it is holding us back. When people evaluate a city to live in, visit, or bring business to, cleanliness is one aspect that they evaluate in making their decision. Litter also impacts the housing market, diminishes a sense of community, reduces a commitment to environmental stewardship, and is costing us money. Since 2007 it has cost Ohio taxpayers $37 million dollars for the Ohio Department of Transportation to pick up other people’s garbage.

Research shows that people are more likely to litter in an area that is already littered. It is time to turn back the tides of litter filling our neighborhoods, streets, rivers, and lake. Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, with support from the Board of Lucas County Commissioners and the City of Toledo, is ready to do our part, but we need your help!

Each month we will be scheduling one day to clean up litter. We will focus on one area from 9:00am to 12:00pm and another from 1:00pm to 4:00. Cleanup Locations will be posted on our website (www.ktlcb.org) and on our Facebook Page at least one week prior to each cleanup. Dates are:

June 13th - 9:00am - 12:00pm - Dorr St between Collingwood Blvd and Upton Ave. Meet at the Mott Branch Library (1010 Dorr St.).

June 13th - 1:00pm - 4:00pm - Detroit Ave and Lawrence Ave. Meet at the Mott Branch Library (1010 Dorr St.).

July 25th - TBD

August 22nd - TBD

September 12th - TBD

We are looking for individuals, families, businesses, corporate organizations, community groups, and youth programs (minors must be at least 10yrs old and accompanied by a responsible adult).

To volunteer you must register and fill out a waiver. Both are found on our website at www.ktlcb.org.

All litter cleanup supplies will be provided (gloves, litter tongs, trash bags, and safety vests).

Social Distancing and PPE recommendations will be followed.

If you cannot make one of the above dates, or if you want to make sure that a specific area gets cleaned, don’t wait for us - organize your own litter cleanup!

Any organized litter cleanup taking place in Lucas County can request cleanup supplies from us (gloves, litter tongs, trash bags, and safety vests) at no cost. We can also help with promoting your cleanup on Social Media and assisting with the pickup of the bags of litter after your cleanup is over.