The 40 to 50 people who turned out for the Keep Salem Beautiful Annual City-Wide Cleanup Saturday collected 71 large bags of trash in several hot spots.
KSB Coordinator Kelley Predium was pleased.
“We’re glad the weather played in our favor,” Predium said. “Our volunteers were a little bit down, but even though we might have been small in numbers, they have surpassed my expectations of the cleanup. We increased our goal from 150 pieces to 250 pieces to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States this year, and multiple people filled multiple bags today. We’re just really impressed.
Volunteers who reached the 250 pieces of litter picked up received a special certificate. Predium says volunteers picked up a large amount of fast food debris such as bags and sandwich paper or boxes, plastic cups, beer and energy drink cans, and plastic Wal-Mart bags.
While the park was relatively clear of litter due to a cleanup before the Easter Egg Hunt, large amount of debris was cleared from Beer Can Alley, on Mills Cart Road behind Salem Wal-Mart, and near the Shelby and Boone Street intersection.
Mayor Nic Farley presented a proclamation declaring Saturday as Keep Salem Beautiful clean-up day. Predium is also thanking Salem Public Works and Marion County EMA for their assistance.
There is still time to put together your own group to clean up a part of town. KSB will provide bags, pickers, safety vests, and even water to drink. Once the group is finished, they will get a KSB T-Shirt.
You can call Predium at (618) 780-2232 or Rita Boudet at (618) 339-8733 for details.
Truck full of trash collected at the Keep Salem Beautiful Cleanup. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
