LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Volunteers are needed to participate in Keep Little Rock Beautiful’s (KLRB) annual fall litter pickup 9 a.m. – noon Saturday, Sept. 10. The cleanup is being held in conjunction with the Great Arkansas Cleanup (GAC), the annual fall statewide litter pickup campaign promoted by Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB).

“Litter continues to be a problem in Little Rock” said Suzanne Hirrel of KLRB, local coordinator of this year’s cleanup. “It can leave a negative impact on our community for years to come. By participating in this year’s Great Arkansas Cleanup, local residents can help make us a more vibrant community.”

Volunteers are encouraged to participate in this year’s litter-pickup effort. Civic and service organizations, church and youth groups, school groups and clubs, scouts, individuals, families, neighborhoods, and businesses can pitch in.

The cleanup will be land and water based. Those with watercraft suitable for the Arkansas River are encouraged to bring it and collect litter along the riverbanks. Volunteers are also need to collect litter in the park and along the trails. Volunteers should wear close-toed shoes, and are encouraged to bring their own gloves, a reusable water bottle and litter grabbers. Trash bags and disposable gloves will be available.

Check-in will be in Murray Park, north of the dog park near the boat ramps along the river at 9 a.m. RSVP to info@krlb.org so that organizers will know how many volunteers to expect.

“Litter is everyone’s responsibility,” Hirrel said. “Although not everyone litters, we do all live in this community together and must work together to keep it clean and green. We do this out of community pride to maintain our outstanding quality of life and to improve our local economy.”

This year’s local cleanup is sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Keep America Beautiful and Keep Arkansas Beautiful Foundation.

About the Great Arkansas Cleanup

The Great Arkansas Cleanup grew out of an effort that began more than 40 years ago as the Greers Ferry Lake and Little Red River Cleanup. In 1985, U.S. Sen. Dale Bumpers guided legislation requiring an annual pickup event during the weekend after Labor Day on all federal lands. This law, the Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Act, honors the founder of the event. Mr. Garner continued his advocacy for a clean and litter-free environment as a member of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Foundation board of directors until his passing in 2014. KAB organized the first statewide GAC in 1989.

About Keep Arkansas Beautiful
As a certified state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful Inc., the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission (KAB) works to inspire and educate individuals to reduce litter, recycle and keep Arkansas beautiful. KAB is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. A three-person professional staff and a nine-member advisory board appointed by the governor manage its programs. KAB is funded by 1 percent of the eighth-cent Conservation Tax and, by mobilizing volunteers, returns to the state a cost benefit of more than $6 in community service for each program dollar spent. For more information about KAB, visit KeepArkansasBeautiful.com or stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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