Three Towns, One Earth Roadside Cleanup
By Shelley Wigglesworth
The second annual Three Towns, One Earth Roadside Cleanup will take place the weekend of April 23-24, following Earth Day 2022. Everyone is welcome to join the effort to clean up trash and litter in their neighborhoods and public areas. This is a cooperative initiative led by the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, The Arundel Conservation Trust, and the Kennebunk Land Trust. Isaac Schuchat of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust said “The three Trust organizations can help direct people looking for areas that need attention. If people are not able to pick up on that specific weekend, they can still register and participate whenever is convenient for them.”
Nathaniel Snow of Arundel added “Each town will have trash bags available in the week leading up to the event and will also have designated drop off sites for all collected trash and pick-up. We will also be available for those unable to transport what they collect. Participants must register to ensure timely pickup of any trash.”
Last year, over one hundred participants across the three towns collected hundreds of pounds of trash from roadsides, beaches, and natural areas. This year, organizers hope to beat that record.
Beth Sandmire, interim executive director, and incoming executive director Sandy Gilbreath, at the Kennebunk Land Trust, said they are thrilled with the collaboration and purpose of this event. As a prelude to the event, the KLT, KCT, and ACT will host a short film event titled “A Different Kind of Trash Talk.” The film is an award-winning documentary by Patricia Burke that links the problems of roadside trash to ocean pollution and climate change as it follows one man’s litter collection initiative in Southern Maine. It will take place by zoom April 13th at 6:30 pm. A brief discussion will follow. It is open to anyone through registration at kennebunklandtrustinfo@gmail.com
Schuchat said “This a great event because it shows how an individual's action of picking up trash can bring a community together. Roadside trash is so pervasive that we have conditioned ourselves to almost ignore it during our daily lives. Now, we can take the opportunity to pause, come together, and easily have a positive impact on our community and on the earth, which is a terrific way to acknowledge upcoming Earth Day.”
Acadia Benham showing off her haul.
The three Trusts welcome any individuals and families who are interested in participating as well as groups, clubs, businesses, and others. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses who would like to contribute in that way as well.
Snow concluded “We started this event at the most basic level to clean and beautify our towns as we are clearly not immune from the scourge of roadside trash, but beyond that we hope that it helps to develop community and engenders a greater awareness to help care for and protect our towns, and our planet.”
To register: