Keep Arkansas Clean

Weekly update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Our neighborhoods are more than just places where we live. They are the very essence of our communities, reflecting our values, aspirations, and pride.

Arkansas is the Natural State. We pride ourselves on the beauty of our lakes, rivers, woods, and trails. We should also take that same pride in our sidewalks, parking lots, and city streets. That’s why we are encouraging Arkansans to sign up for the Great Arkansas Cleanup. 

This year, the Great Arkansas Cleanup will take place from September 7 to October 31. 

 In 2023, the hard work and dedication of Arkansans paid off, with nearly 150,000 hours spent participating in cleanup activities. Volunteers removed a staggering 514 tons of bulky waste from 2,132 miles of roadways and 772,051 acres of parks and public areas in all 75 counties.

 Not only did volunteers clean up alongside waterways and shorelines, but they also collected 6,227 tires, 2,418 tons of recyclables and planted over 1,878 trees, shrubs, and flowers. Additionally, 182 litter grabber kits were distributed to individuals who wanted to clean their communities but were unable to join larger cleanups.

 The impact of the Great Arkansas Cleanup goes far beyond just picking up litter. In 2023, the total economic value returned back to communities in Arkansas was nearly $5.4 million. This shows that investing in keeping our state clean pays off in more ways than one. Additionally, there were nearly 23,000 volunteers, representing a 63% increase over the last 5 years. This demonstrates the growing commitment of Arkansans and the power of community coming together to keep Arkansas beautiful.

 By taking part in this statewide community improvement campaign, you can make a difference in your community and help keep Arkansas beautiful for generations to come. Find information on how to organize a cleanup event in your community and register your event to receive free bags, gloves, and t-shirts (while supplies last) at keeparkansasbeautiful.com.

 Together, we can continue to make our state a cleaner, greener, and more vibrant place to live. Let's work together to make Arkansas even more beautiful!

Keep Arkansas Beautiful launches 2024 Great American Cleanup

KUAR | By Nathan Treece, Seth Hooker

Keep Arkansas Beautiful is looking to eclipse its record-breaking 2023 year by collecting even more litter during the 2024 Great American Cleanup.

In 2023, volunteers from each of Arkansas’ 75 counties collected over 630 tons of litter from across the state. Robyn Taylor, Volunteer Program Manager at Keep Arkansas Beautiful, says she is working to keep that energy going forward, but that litter prevention is key to keeping the state clean.

“Our goal is to get it clean and keep it clean,” Taylor said. “Hopefully, each year our volunteers will go up, but the amount of litter they pick up will go down.”

Keep Arkansas Beautiful launches 2024 Great American Cleanup

Nathan Treece/Little Rock Public Radio

Keep Arkansas Beautiful is seeking volunteers for the annual Great American Cleanup, running through the end of May.

Earth Day is Clean-Up Day!

Earth Day is Clean-Up Day!

UA Cossatot Center for Student Success, JAG and Student Ambassadors have helped coordinate clean-up days for the city of De Queen, Ashdown, and Nashville to help make a BIG and visible difference in our communities. Volunteer student groups include Student Ambassadors, Rotaract, JAG, Youth Build, and the UA Cossatot Basketball team.

Day 1- April 21 included basketball students picking up trash along one of the busiest highways in De Queen, Arkansas, while

Day 2- April 22 will include Ashdown, AR, and Nashville, AR. 

 

We want to thank all the kind people and businesses that showed their support by coming out to let us know how appreciative they were of our service, and we especially would like to thank Leopard Nutrition for sponsoring our drinks for the day. 

We would also like to express our gratitude to Mayor Jeff Brown for supplying our vests, trash bags, gloves and also to the De Queen Chamber for providing our De Queen students with t-shirts.