SEATTLE — In 2025, Seattle Public Utilities reported clearing nearly 2 million pounds of trash and debris from homeless encampments and through RV cleanup efforts.
One volunteer group in West Seattle contributes a small portion of that work for what it considers to be a big impact.
Erik Bell founded “A Cleaner Alki” in 2021 while feeling a disconnect within the throes of the pandemic. He said that he now has a Facebook group of a few thousand people, and a steady group of about 100 volunteers who are ready to hit the outdoors in the name of cleaning up West Seattle parks and green spaces…