UTICA — It’s not too late to join in on the Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful Great American Cleanup, according to coordinators of the six-county event.

This year’s program kicked off back in April, organizers said, but the effort runs until Monday, June 20, and more work needs to be done to help keep the region litter-free and looking pristine.

For example, organizers said, groups are still needed to help clean up litter along roadways, waterways, parks and recreation areas. Volunteers can help local beautification efforts by starting a community garden or participating in a recycling project. Teams looking to help make a lasting impact in one of these areas — or a different area altogether — are encouraged to register their cleanup ahead of time at www.ohswa.org.

“We have had an amazing turnout across the regions this year,” said Samantha Brown, recycling coordinator for the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority. “Collectively, volunteer sign ups has increased almost 800% from 2021. Over 1,500 volunteers have picked up over 1,800 bags of litter and collected over 200 bags of recyclables in the Mohawk Valley so far,” she added.

By registering your event on the www.ohswa.org website, you are eligible to receive free materials including gloves, trash bags, and other assistance. In addition to free materials and resources, registrants will be highlighted for their efforts on the Authority website and KMVB social media platforms.

Volunteers who have registered can pick up supplies at the following locations during regular business hours:

• Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, 26 W. Main St., Mohawk;
• Moore Insurance Group, 1002 Black River Blvd., Rome;
• Utica City Hall (by appointment only), 1 Kennedy Plaza, Utica; and
• The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority, 1600 Genesee St., Utica.

Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful (KAB). KAB works to create sustainable communities that are socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound, and their annual clean-up effort is part the country’s largest community improvement program.

Each spring, KAB affiliates, like KMVB, engage more than 4 million volunteers in more than 20,000 communities nationwide. This year, KMVB is asking individuals, businesses, organizations, and community groups to register cleanup or beautification events – new or existing – in the Mohawk Valley region.

Registered events receive support from KMVB, and results are included in the national report published annually by KAB.

“We want to recognize the efforts of all the volunteers who have gone out and done something to improve the environmental health of our region, so please register your event with us,” says Steve Smith, executive director of the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District.

“Whether you have a one-person team or a 200-person team – we want to include your cleanup,” the MVEDD executive continued.