Project Cleanup returns for autumn, encouraging community-led litter removal

The City of Iowa City is continuing to offer Project Cleanup kits, a volunteer-driven program that supports community-led litter removal efforts across the city. The initiative encourages residents to help keep neighborhoods, parks, and walking routes clean and beautiful.

Those interested in participating can stop by the Iowa City Public Library, City Hall, the Senior Center, or Mercer Park Aquatic Center to pick up a free Project Cleanup Kit. Each kit includes:

• One pair of reusable gloves
• One 16-gallon orange garbage bag
• An instruction sheet with safety and disposal tips

Volunteers are encouraged to clean up litter in public spaces or along familiar routes, but are reminded to obtain permission before entering private property.

After completing a cleanup, volunteers can place their filled orange bags next to their waste receptacle on their regular curbside collection day. No $2.50 sticker is required for disposal of these Project Cleanup bags when used for volunteer litter collection.

Project Cleanup Kits are intended for small groups or individual pickups with a maximum of three kits provided at a time. If you would like four or more kits, please contact Diane Platte at 319-887-6163 or email [email protected] or schedule a supply pickup. This helps ensure kits remain consistently available to individual pickups.

To help track the program's impact, cleanup leaders are encouraged to visit icgov.org/projectcleanup and complete a short survey. The form asks for basic details about the cleanup, including location and number of bags collected.

For more information or to get involved, visiticgov.org/projectcleanup.