Calendar
Littering is Wrong Too @ Xavier University
Sept 1st: Xavier University. Join us during the Coffee Hour from 3 to 5pm at Gallagher Student Center to share with us what else is…
'Littering is Wrong Too' on-hand @ Ft. Square!
August 27th: Indie Summer Concerts, Ft. Square. KCB will be requesting you to 'write your wrong' to help promote the new campaign, Littering is Wrong…
News
Littering Prevention campaign up and running
July 20th. New anti-littering campaign asks for 'jerky behavior'. To read more click here
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Great American Cleanup
Cincinnati's Great American Cleanup 2010, sponsored by UDF and Great American Insurance Group took place on Saturday April 24th. The Great American Cleanup 2011 will take place on Saturday April 23rd. For more details contact Liz McEwan at 352-4384. 
Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup (GAC), the nation's largest community improvement program, takes place annually from March 1 through May 31, involving an estimated 2.8 million volunteers and attendees. The hardworking volunteers donated more than 8 million hours in 2009 to clean, beautify and improve more than 17,000 communities during more than 30,000 events in all 50 states and beyond. Activities included beautifying parks and recreation areas, cleaning seashores and waterways, handling recycling collections, picking up litter, planting trees and flowers, and conducting educational programs and litter-free events.
* Disney registered volunteers click here for instructions on how to get your online voucher.
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See in the Map all the Communities that participated on the cleanup
View GAC 2010 Community Map in a larger map
The Results
Between March 1-May 31st, there were 115 separate Great American Cleanup events with 8,312 total participants. This includes 30 k-12 school campus cleanups, 80 community-led events, and 5 events organized by Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.Our volunteers collected roughly 187,000 lbs of bagged trash, 125,000 lbs of un-bagged debris, and recycled over 13,000 lbs of recyclables.They disposed of over 1,200 illegally dumped tires, cleaned 55 illegal dumps, cleaned 86 playgrounds and parks, and planted over 1,000 trees, flowers, and bulbs.
Some particularly interesting things related to the Great American Cleanup:
- The Ohio State Roadway Cleanup on March 27th brought in over 160 total volunteers to clean 9 different highway ramp locations across the City. The Ohio Department of Transportation supplied vehicles and workers to lead the groups, as well as dispose of the trash and debris. ODOT also sent workers out various times during the surrounding weeks to clean hard-to-reach areas on the highways.
- The vast majority of the GAC events were scheduled for April 24th. 21 communities events were rescheduled due to the anticipated rain on 24th and a few were rescheduled another time due to rain on May 1st. About 6 communities never rescheduled their events.
- Our main focus on April 24th was in Mount Washington, the current location of the Neighborhood Enhancement Program. 350 volunteers came out to do a variety of cleanup projects, including work in Stanberry Park and in an illegal dumping ground in a nearly floodplain. There was an immense amount of local community and corporate support for this event in the way of donated tools, volunteers, and food.
- Over 30 Tri-State schools have participated by cleaning their campuses and surrounding areas.
- On May 4, 270 sorority women from the University of Cincinnati participated in a cleanup in the CUF and Corryville areas.
- A class of 24 UC students has been working with the Future Blooms project to paint our signature doors and windows on multiple buildings on Wade St. in Over-the-Rhine for a large-scale neighborhood transformation.
Some of the Tri-state highlights for April 24th:
• 300 volunteers in Mt. Washington picked up litter, fixed potholes, cleaned up a cemetery, built birdhouses, installed dog stations and planted flowers. Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls kicked off the wide-city events at the Goodwill Store in Beechmont and ‘Who Dey’ the Bengals’ mascot pumped up the children in attendance.
• Over-the-Rhine Community Council recycled 1900 lbs of aluminum, reported abandoned open buildings, replanted a gateway pocket garden and cleaned up an alley lined with open, abandoned buildings.
• 600 volunteers cleaned up the whole City of Covington and celebrated with a BBQ
• The Downtown Community Council cleared up trash and debris from the ‘Path to the Taft’.
• 60 Hidden Valley Lake (SE Indiana) volunteers cut invasive grape vines from a park to protect trees and used Golf carts to haul the waste. ‘Binny’, Rumpke’s mascot, was present at the event giving away Zoo and Reds tickets.
• 115 Northside volunteers installed two park benches in a park at Knowlton and Mad Anthony.
• 70 Reading volunteers canoed the Millcreek and pulled debris filling up a two ton dump truck.
For information about sponsoring opportunities, volunteering or coordinating a cleanup event in your neighborhood in 2010, call 352-4380 or email Liz McEwan.
KCB also organizes a similar cleanup in the Fall on Make a Difference Day.
FAQ:
Q: How can I volunteer in my community during the Great American Cleanup (or Make a Difference Day)?A: As the events approach, there will be a frequently updated list of community events posted on our website. You will find information about who to contact, where to meet, and when to meet for your local cleanup event. If you don't see your neighborhood on the list, choose another one near to you or contact us for other ideas about volunteering.
Q: Who coordinates the Great American Cleanup (or Make a Difference Day) in my neighborhood?
A: Usually the Community designates a coordinator for the event and many of these coordinators have been involved with the Cleanup for multiple years.
Q: How can I be involved in coordinating next year's event?
A: If someone has already been working in your neighborhood, we can help you contact them. If your neighborhood needs a coordinator for next year, contact us for ideas about how to put an event together with the help of your neighbors, local businesses, and your Community.
Q: How can I contact my Community Council?
A: You can find their contact information and meeting dates/times/location by visiting the Community Council website.
Q: What happens to all of the trash collected during the Great American Cleanup?
A: Within the city limits, we arrange for the trash to be picked up on the day of the event by Public Services. Our friends at Rumpke have, in the past, donated landfill space for the trash and yardwaste.
Q: Can I clean out my basement/garage/backyard during the Great American Cleanup?
A: No. We ask that the waste collected on the day of the event be waste removed from public streets, parks, alleyways, and highways. For personal waste (such as large appliances) you can call (513) 591-6000 to arrange for pickup on your normal trash day. Public Services will collect up to 3 large items per week at curbside.
