Keep Arkansas Beautiful Kicks Off the 2024 Great Arkansas Cleanup
As the state highway stretches 16,367 miles long, Arkansas finds itself battling a persistent nemesis – litter. Since its inception in 1969 as the Greers Ferry Lake and Little Red River Cleanup, the Great Arkansas Cleanup has evolved into an annual litter pickup and community cleanup event. The 2024 installment is now underway, urging Arkansans to join forces and beautify their communities from September 7 to October 31.
Spearheaded by the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, the event is driven by volunteers and coordinators from all 75 counties who register and host local cleanup, beautification, and recycling events. These efforts collectively return significant economic value to the communities while highlighting the importance of litter prevention. In 2023, volunteers turned the entire map of Arkansas “clean, green, and beautiful,” collecting over 630 tons of litter across the state.
Registration Encouraged
To participate in the 2024 Great Arkansas Cleanup, communities can register their free cleanup, beautification, or recycling events. By doing so, they will be provided with the necessary materials like trash bags, gloves, safety vests, and promotional materials. Registration is crucial to ensuring that every corner of the state is covered and that the collective efforts have a lasting impact.
By joining this initiative, Arkansans can contribute to a historic year of community improvement. Keep Arkansas Beautiful envisions a state where every roadside, shoreline, park, and public area is cleaned and maintained throughout the year, and the Great Arkansas Cleanup is a crucial step towards achieving that vision. It is a testament to the power of community involvement in fostering a sense of pride and responsibility for the environment.
History of Success
The past year saw remarkable success, with over 17,163 volunteers in 2024 and 608 public spaces cleaned during the annual Great American Cleanup. Volunteers collected 626 tons of litter, 4,672 tires, and 648 tons of bulky waste and recyclables. Additionally, the total economic value returned to communities was ,733,261.15, underscoring the tangible impact of these cleanup efforts.
Registration for the 2024 Great Arkansas Cleanup is now open, and communities are encouraged to participate. Every volunteer, no matter how small their contribution may seem, has the power to spark a chain reaction of cleaning and beautification across the state. By working together, Arkansans can create a lasting legacy of a “clean, green, and beautiful” state.