Keep Arkansas Beautiful Kicks Off 2024 Great American Cleanup
Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB) has launched the 2024 Great Arkansas Cleanup, a vigorous community improvement effort aiming to inspire volunteers in all 75 counties across the state to eliminate litter and enhance public spaces. Following a record-breaking year in 2023, KAB is determined to maintain its momentum and effect a lasting change in the state’s cleanliness.
This year’s event will run from September 7 through October 31, with significant volunteer involvement required before and after the April 8 total solar eclipse. Volunteer community registration for the event is now open, emphasizing the need for individuals and groups to sign up and contribute to the state-wide cleanup.
As part of the initiative, the organization’s goal is to remove tons of litter and bulk waste from Arkansas’ roadways, waterways, shorelines, and public spaces. This effort goes hand-in-hand with its broader mission to “turn the entire state ‘clean'” and promote a sense of community pride and responsibility.
The success of the cleanup campaign relies on the collective actions of volunteers, with every participant contributing to a larger impact. The hope is to not only clean the state’s public areas but to maintain the cleanliness over time, thereby reducing the need for such large-scale cleanup efforts in the future.
Community Engagement & Impact
- 650 tons of litter collected in 2023
- 772,000 acres of parks and public areas cleaned
- Support from local organizations and sponsors
Keep Arkansas Beautiful recognizes the significant economic value that volunteer efforts bring to the state. In 2023, the total economic value returned to communities in Arkansas was ,798,926. The successful campaigns help to revitalize communities and emphasize the importance of shared responsibility in maintaining a clean environment.
The Great American Cleanup, another annual initiative, runs from March through May, with the Great Arkansas Cleanup happening each fall. Both events aim to improve public spaces, foster community engagement, and create a lasting difference across the state.
Getting Involved
Volunteers can register for free and participate in cleanup, beautification, or recycling events in their communities. Individuals are encouraged to sign up, as even small-scale involvement can have a significant impact when combined with the efforts of others.
“One person going out and cleaning up their block can cause a huge chain reaction in a community.” This message underscores the potential for individuals and groups to make a meaningful difference.
