Photo: PeopleImages / iStock / Getty Images
(Iowa) -- Iowa’s largest Earth Day volunteer event is underway, with more than 100 cleanup projects scheduled across the Des Moines metro throughout the week. The annual Earth Day Trash Bash, a metro‑wide collaboration, runs during Earth Week and brings together thousands of volunteers to restore natural areas, remove litter, and improve local watersheds.
“All of that litter being removed is litter that isn’t going into our watersheds or waterways. And all those acres being restored by people removing invasive species, there are a lot of impacts volunteers are making,” said Callie Le’au Courtright, Des Moines Parks and Recreation Supervisor.
Since its launch in 2008, Earth Day Trash Bash has brought together more than 32,000 volunteers, according to Des Moines Parks and Recreation. Organizers aim to recruit around 2,000 volunteers this year to complete the full slate of scheduled projects.
This year’s Earth Day Trash Bash kicked off last Saturday and continues through Saturday, April 25, with events taking place across multiple metro communities. Activities include litter cleanup, invasive species removal, tree and flower planting, and other environmental restoration efforts designed to improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and public green spaces.
Click the link for more information on Earth Day Trash Bash.