Nonprofit organization teams up with Toledo Spirits
TOLEDO -Earth Day (April 22) is an environmental movement designed to raise awareness, promote sustainability, and protect the planet’s natural resources. First initiated in 1970, it now mobilizes over 1 billion people every year.
One organization is getting a head start: Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful (KT/LCB) and Partners for Clean Streams are teaming up for an Earth Day Litter Cleanup and Green Drinks Event on Tuesday, April 21. They hold numerous events like this throughout the year.
KT/LCB is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that aims to provide a cleaner Toledo and Lucas County through services such as litter cleanup, recycling programs, educational programs, and tree planting and landscaping.
Adam Cassi, Executive Director of Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, explained that these events are typically just social events, but the organization decided to take a step further and have a litter cleanup before the social event. Cassi explained that this time of year is litter season for the organization.
“Lots of litter builds up over the wintertime. Nobody likes to go out and pick up litter in the winter. So now that it’s warming up, there’s litter everywhere, especially if you drive around 475, 75, all the on-ramps and off-ramps. But that area along Summit Street in front of Toledo Spirits and TolHouse always collects a lot of litter, and we’ll be going along there and cleaning that up.”
According to a study from Keep America Beautiful, there are nearly 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. roadways and waterways, and 88 percent of it is smaller than four inches.
While we hear about plastic in the oceans, the problem can be felt in our backyard. Cassi says that the goal is to collect the litter before it finds its way to the Maumee River and/or into Lake Erie. He also said that an estimated 2,500 tons of plastic flows into Lake Erie every single year.
While litter is bad for the environment, it is also an economic issue. Cassi explained that a city full of litter will see less business development and tourism. He also explained the socioeconomic impact of littering.
“You know, if a community is clean, they’ve typically got everybody a little bit more passion, and they are more connected.” He said, “They know that that’s socially unacceptable to litter there, and there’s a lot of pride in that neighborhood. There’s also a lot of research that says if an area is clean, it’s easier to keep it that way.”
On the other hand, if there is litter everywhere, people will be more inclined to think it is okay to throw out one more piece of litter.
Lastly, littering also poses a health risk, particularly when it comes to plastic. Cassi noted a study from the University of New Mexico that found that brain tissue carries about 4,800 micrograms per gram, which is equivalent to the amount found in a plastic spoon. Events like the one on April 21 are beneficial for the environment, the economy, and our overall health.
Cassi says that the Litter Cleanup and Green Drinks events are open to the public. He simply asks that people register ahead of time because Toledo Spirits is not usually open on Tuesdays. There is information available on their social media and on their website. He also noted that you do not have to go to the Litter Cleanup to attend the Green Drinks Event. If the cleanup is too early in the day, you are still welcome at the Green Drinks Event.
The event will be held on Tuesday, April 21, at Toledo Spirits (1301 N. Summit St.) from 4 to 5 p.m. for a litter cleanup, followed by a Green Drinks networking event from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available. You can register for the event here.
