The LitterBugz Announces Final Meet-Ups for 2019 Great Cleveland Clean-Up

CLEVELAND, Oh (April 26, 2019) - Local litter pickup and recycling action group The LitterBugz have announced their 23 final meet-up locations for the 6^th Great Cleveland Clean-Up happening this weekend; April 27 and April 28, 2019.  Working towards removing all of the litter from Cleveland and Cuyahoga County in only two hours, this event connects volunteers across the city by offering meet up locations in downtown, urban, intercity, and suburban communities; making it easier than ever for volunteers to join.  On Friday April 26^th at 6:30 pm, leaders and clean-up coordinators are gathering at Viva Dance Studio.  (https://www.litterbugz.org/blog/the-final-meet-ups-for-2019-great-cleveland-clean-up)

The LitterBugz have been hosting the Great Cleveland Clean-Up every April since 2013 pulling in over 3,000 volunteers collectively.  The group estimates approximately 4,000 volunteers are needed to accomplish the goal:  removing all of the litter from Cuyahoga County in just two hours.

The Great Cleveland Clean-Up is an opportunity for students and employees to receive community service hours.  Before volunteers divide into teams and dispatching into the communities, volunteers are taught how to recycle and are educated on the effects of litter.  Volunteers get to interact with passionate environmentalists and learn the two ways to beautify a community.  To learn more, volunteer, or schedule a clean-up reach out to Jeff Schlekie at [email protected] or 440-829-4703.

Background & History of The LitterBugz

During the spring of 2011, a group of students started picking up litter in different neighborhoods weekly.  Each volunteer wore a t-shirt that read, "I Hate Trash."  As they moved areas, residents would help by picking up their own trash.  By August, the group had signed up over 500 volunteers, The LitterBugz cleans neighborhoods & they do it strategically.  This group started at The University of Toledo and quickly moved to Cleveland as the founders and committee leaders are originally from the Greater Cleveland Area.  (https://www.litterbugz.org)

LitterBugz' clean-ups are organized passionately by people who volunteer to pick up litter.  They encourage others to create change in hopes to inspire an environmentally friendly culture.  Litter is a distraction.  Litter also disturbs people.  Without litter, resources are more accessible.  People tend to gravitate towards cleaner areas spending more money with local businesses.  Making the environment more attractive improves the economy.