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Arkansas is beautiful. Let’s keep it that way!
In 2014, volunteers through the Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB) program collected over 1.5 million pounds of litter from Arkansas roadways and parks. The sad fact is that this number doesn’t even include the amount of litter collected through the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department each year and other cleanup efforts. Nationwide, approximately 51 billion pieces of trash land on roadways each year.
It may seem that we are fighting an uphill, never-ending battle to keep our streets and parks clean, but every cleanup effort, no matter how big or small, will make a difference.
The Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission was established in June 1989 to implement a statewide litter-prevention and recycling program. Funded in part by a statewide conservation tax and through a 501(c)(3) organization, KAB provides community engagement and volunteerism programs, public awareness and education opportunities and materials to schools to help teach behavioral change and stewardship through a variety of activities.
This fall, from Sept. 12 through Oct. 31, KAB is promoting the Great Arkansas Cleanup. Each year, volunteers from all over the state work together to remove tons of trash from parks, waterways and highways throughout the state. Volunteers of all ages participate in cleanup and environmental improvement projects that can have a huge impact on the beauty of Arkansas.
Projects are currently being organized around the state, and you can even organize an event of your own through your church, school, office, civic club or community. Each small effort combines for a noticeable positive impact throughout Arkansas.
Ready to help with the Great Arkansas Cleanup?
There are several ways to get involved. If you are interested in joining a scheduled event, you can check the GAC calendar for local events. New events are being added daily. You can also organize your event by first watching their event planning video and then checking out all of the great information on the Great Arkansas Cleanup webpage.
Connect with Keep Arkansas Beautiful on Facebook to keep up with all of the new events.
Here is a list of several Great Arkansas Cleanup events that will be happening close to where you live:
Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake Cleanup – Saturday, Sept. 26
Prairie Creek Park
9300 N. Park Rd.
Rogers, AR
Email: wendy@bentoncountyrecycles.org
Phone Number: 479-795-0751
Eureka Springs “Load Up Your Pickup” – Saturday, Oct. 16
River Lake Exxon
Hwy 187 & 62
Eureka Springs, AR
Phone Number: 479-981-6606
Northeast Arkansas
Jonesboro – Keep Jonesboro Beautiful – Friday, Sept. 25
Jonesboro Human Development Center
4701 Colony Rd.
Jonesboro, AR
Email: LaKisha Miller@dhs.arkansas.gov
Phone Number: 870-932-4043; Ext. 250
Cherokee Village Roadside Litter Pickup – Saturday, Oct. 31
King-Rhodes Real Estate
249 Iroquois Drive
Cherokee Village, AR
Email: joendoris@gmail.com
Phone Number: 870-257-5620
Central Arkansas
Little Rock – “Clark Wetlands” Cleanup – Saturday, Oct. 3
1200 President Clinton Ave
Little Rock, AR
Email: yayagumbo2002@yahoo.com
Phone Number: 214-325-4111
Searcy – “Keep White County Beautiful” Recycling Event – Thursday, Oct. 15 – Saturday, Oct. 17
White County Fair Grounds
802 Davis Dr.
Searcy, AR
Email: wcjudgesoffice@att.net
Phone Number: 501-279-6200
Southwest Arkansas
Murfreesboro – “Great Crater” Cleanup – Saturday, Oct. 3
Crater of Diamonds State Park
209 State Park Road
Murfreesboro, AR
Email: waymon.cox@arkansas.gov
Phone Number: 870-285-3113
Southeast Arkansas
McGehee – Desha County Day of Service – Tuesday, Oct. 13
310 W. Oak St.
McGehee, AR
Email: hbragg@uaex.edu
Phone Number: 870-222-3972
Header photo by Julie Kohl. All other photos provided by Keep Arkansas Beautiful.
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