Great American Cleanup

People with trash tongs in front of a pickup with its bed of full garbage bags

Among the many ways you and your organization can help control litter in Beatrice and Gage County and make our community more attractive is participating in the Great American Cleanup®. The City of Beatrice has partnered with Keep Beatrice Beautiful (KBB) to coordinate hundreds of volunteers to pick up litter in public areas.

Litter cleanups not only make our city look beautiful but create healthy habitats for wildlife and provide education in practice as volunteers see what items are littered and think about how they can change their behaviors to reduce consumption. 

Before the event:

To get started, register your organization, group, or family by completing the Registration Form below. Litter cleanups are flexible to your schedule and group size. A representative will contact you to coordinate your cleanup location and arrange a time for you to pick up cleanup supplies. Return signed waiver forms for each participant in your group to kmcgrury [at] beatrice.ne.gov (.)

During the event:

Enter to win prizes by taking photos during your litter cleanup! Take a before and after photo of the cleanup site, action shots during the litter cleanup, and a final group picture with all the trash collected. Submit them to kbb [at] beatrice.ne.gov. Prizes will be awarded for "Best Photo", "Most Bags of Trash Collected", and "Oddest Item Found".

After the event:

In order to share the great service you are volunteering to do for our community, the City of Beatrice and KBB ask that you complete a brief report to share your impact post-cleanup. Information reported includes the number of bags of trash collected, and the types of litter found during the cleanup.

What is the Great American Cleanup®?

Led nationally by Keep America Beautiful, Inc., The Great American Cleanup® is the nation’s largest community improvement program. The event takes place every spring in more than 15,000 communities.

Beatrice’s 2023 Great American Cleanup® will span from April 1st to May 31st. Volunteers have the flexibility to schedule their litter cleanup anytime during this timeframe.  

Where will the cleanup take place?

The City of Beatrice and Keep Beatrice Beautiful have a list of pre-determined public spaces to serve as cleanup sites. Once your registration is received, a representative will contact you to determine which site will work best for your group. 

Who provides cleanup supplies?

Keep Beatrice Beautiful will provide litter tongs, safety vests, and trash bags. 

Are there any prizes for participating in the cleanup?

Yes! Prizes will be awarded for individuals or groups participating in an event photo contest. Prizes will be awarded for “Best Photo”, “Most Bags Collected”, and “Oddest Item Found”.

Email your photos to: kbb [at] beatrice.ne.gov. Winners will be notified at the conclusion of the event.

Where do I take the trash collected from the event?

After completing your cleanup, dispose of your collected trash for free at the BASWA Landfill (3426 West Locust Road). You will need to tell the landfill attendant that you are with Keep Beatrice Beautiful and the name on your registration. 

Are there any littered items that I should not pick up?

Please do not pick up any hazardous waste or items that would be unsafe to touch. Examples include needles, dead animals, and broken glass. Notify the City of Beatrice or KBB if you find an item like this on your site and we will make sure it gets safely disposed of. 

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