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COLUMBUS—April marks Litter Awareness Month in Polk County, heralding a series of clean-up events throughout the area to bolster community engagement and volunteerism.

There are several opportunities to take part in this collective effort towards a cleaner, greener planet! To facilitate these efforts, the Columbus Town Hall will furnish essential supplies such as gloves and trash bags for the convenience of participants.

Residents are encouraged to join the Town of Columbus Litter Pick-Up Event scheduled for April 13 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Those interested can register by emailing Town Hall at daisy@columbusnc.com or by calling (828) 894-8236.

In collaboration with Conserving Carolina, a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving water and land resources in western North Carolina, the NC Litter Sweep program will take place throughout April. The Houston Road Community is also rallying for a litter pickup event on April 27, covering the entire length of Houston Road.

Additionally, Keep America Beautiful is commemorating the 26th anniversary of the Great American Cleanup until May 31. The initiative, which has engaged millions of volunteers over the years, has yielded significant results, including collecting 10 million pounds of litter and cleaning over 760,000 acres of public spaces and roadways.

“Litter looks bad,” said Town Manager Tim Barth. “If you’re jogging, riding a bike, or walking, and you see litter, it just gives you a bad feeling. It’s just bad, not only for our community but for our environment as well.”

The Town of Columbus extends participation invitations to families, church groups, clubs, schools, youth and adult organizations, businesses, and individuals within the community. By actively involving themselves in environmental conservation, participants demonstrate pride and responsibility for their community and promote awareness for future generations.