As Earth Month draws attention to sustainability efforts, city officials and local volunteers in Iowa City say litter continues to be a persistent issue.
The Iowa City Downtown District Ambassadors program deploys paid staff to clean public spaces and maintain downtown areas daily. The program has been in place for nearly two years and tracks the amount of waste collected by ambassadors. Downtown District Executive Director Betsy Potter said the ambassadors have collected 318,073 pounds of trash and cleaned 72,347 curblines in the past 12 months.
“They are constantly picking up trash from the streets, emptying trash cans, and cleaning up parking lots and garages,” Potter said. “This is a seven-day-a-week operation.”
In addition to the ambassador program, the City of Iowa City has created a program of their own to mitigate litter in Iowa City. The Project Cleanup program, a year-round initiative, encourages residents to take part in volunteer cleanups. Kendall McMullen, the city’s climate action engagement specialist, said the city supplies kits that include gloves and trash bags to help organize participation…