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By Kelli Latuska
Spring’s arrival means that it is time for some spring cleaning in Duluth. The City of Duluth supports community clean-up initiatives that address the problem of litter and illegal dumping throughout our neighborhoods. To maximize these efforts, residents are encouraged to get involved.
“Every spring, as winter leaves us, we see more litter and garbage appear,” said Cheryl Skafte, coordinator with Keep Duluth Clean, “It’s a simple thing that we all can do to help protect our great lake and keep our community beautiful: Pick up litter!”
Keep Duluth Clean is a community volunteer-led effort that aims to motivate individuals, friends, and groups to clean-up where they live, work and play. People are encouraged to sign the pledge to clean-up by themselves or with a group, and share their results afterward. Community efforts to address litter and illegal dumping over the years have resulted in thousands of volunteers removing tons of garbage from public spaces.
“Community involvement on this issue is important,” said Mayor Roger J. Reinert. “The impact of having so many people as stewards and partners in the effort to remove litter from our boulevards, parks, beaches, and creeks is exponential.”
Keep Duluth Clean is organizing multiple upcoming opportunities for residents to take action, such as Clean Yer Creek, the Lincoln Park clean-up with Ecolibrium3. With all these events, there is a chance for everyone to contribute to a litter-free Duluth.
“This will be our 16th year of Clean Yer Creek,” said Julia Wisehart, program coordinator for this signature clean-up event. “Each year our efforts grow. We’ll be cleaning five creeks this year and hopefully engaging upwards of 400 volunteers. It’s shocking how much trash and debris we find in our creeks, but rewarding to know that because of Clean Yer Creek it won’t make it into the Lake Superior watershed.”
For anyone looking to take the spring pledge, find upcoming events, or learn how to organize an individual clean-up, visit www.keepduluthclean.org.
