Beautification Forms & Resources
Keep Columbus Beautiful thrives on the passion and dedication of our incredible volunteers. From recycling initiatives to litter cleanups and beautification projects, there's a way for everyone to make a meaningful impact. Explore our program pages to find opportunities that inspire you, and sign up to join us in creating a cleaner, greener Columbus. Have questions? Call us at (614) 645-2421 — we’d love to hear from you!
Community Cleanups
Have you seen an area in your neighborhood that needs cleaning up? Keep Columbus Beautiful makes it easy to lead your community cleanup. We will provide all the necessary supplies to run a successful cleanup and can arrange to have the trash picked up from a designated area. We can also help recruit volunteers for large cleanups by posting your cleanup to our online events calendar.
Organize a Cleanup
- Fill out the KCB Event Registration and Supply Request Form at least two weeks in advance to request supplies.
- We’ll confirm your request and supply pickup time within 48 business hours.
- Pick up and drop off the supplies at the Keep Columbus Beautiful office at your pre-arranged time. Make sure to return your signed liability waivers.
- Complete the Report Form and send photos to let us know how your cleanup went.
FAQ
What is litter abatement?
It is collecting litter and beautifying a space to positively impact the health of our environment and our community.
How does a community cleanup work?
Keep Columbus Beautiful hosts various volunteer events throughout the year and provides resources for groups & and individuals to organize their cleanups. Through Keep Columbus Beautiful’s community cleanup program, you can conduct a litter cleanup whenever, wherever, and with however many volunteers you’d like. Keep Columbus Beautiful can provide free cleanup supplies such as trash bags and gloves. If you know of an area and date you would like to hold a cleanup, don't hesitate to register your event for supplies and trash collection 2 to 3 weeks before the cleanup date.
I don’t have an area in mind to clean. Can you help?
If you don’t have a specific area in mind to clean, we recommend looking at the litter index for Columbus. The litter index is a tool used to identify areas with higher concentrations of litter, helping to pinpoint locations that could benefit most from a cleanup effort.
Can we recruit additional volunteers for our workday?
Once we receive all of your event details, we can add your event to the Keep Columbus Beautiful volunteer calendar to promote your workday.
What events do you have coming up?
If your group is interested in joining a Keep Columbus Beautiful-led event or a community event, please check our Event Page or subscribe to Keep Columbus Beautiful monthly newsletter.
What should I wear to volunteer?
Volunteers should come prepared to work outside on uneven terrain. Please be sure to dress for the weather and wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty or wet. Closed-toe shoes are required, and long pants are recommended. We do not provide water bottles, so please bring a full reusable water bottle to stay hydrated.
What if the weather is cold and rainy?
We host our events rain or shine as long as the weather does not pose a direct threat to your safety. *Should we have to cancel, a notice will be sent out 48 hours in advance.
What can I expect when I’m there?
Expectations and event details change depending on the project, but a few examples are as follows.
- Cleanup – volunteers will work in pairs or small groups to collect trash & recycling at a specific location.
Are pets allowed?
Please refer to the pet policy of the location of your choosing.
Can I track this as a community service opportunity?
Yes, we can provide community service hours, and minors may participate in cleanups with adult supervision. Please get in touch with our team for specific details.
Adopt-an-Area
Join the Adopt-an-Area program to help keep our streets clean and litter-free. Adopting groups take care of roads and surrounding public spaces throughout Columbus, picking up trash along their adopted street segment. Participating in Adopt-an-Area is a great way to show civic pride, engage with colleagues and friends, and build community ties.
Adopt-an-Area partners commit to:
- Adopting at least a one-half mile of public right-of-way area in the City of Columbus mile within the City of Columbus to clean for one year
- Hosting 3 or more cleanups per year along the adopted segment (one of the three will be in April to coincide with Earth Day)
- Submitting reports about each cleanup
Adopting groups receive free cleanup supplies, project guidance, and trash collection from Keep Columbus Beautiful.
To adopt-an-area, please fill out the application. A member of our team will be in touch to confirm your participation.
Brochures
Explore our resource library. Below, you'll find a collection of helpful guides and programs to support your efforts in building a cleaner, greener community. Click on the PDFs to learn more about recycling, composting, waste reduction, and more.
Litter Fact Sheets provided courtesy of:
