Get outside for the 2022 KC Plogtober cleanup

The impact of litter-free parks and trails goes beyond keeping contamination out of our local watersheds.

• Intervening to reduce disorder in public open spaces contributes to their perceived safety and therefore public use.

• Although greater use of public natural spaces (or shared "cultural ecosystem services," as identified in one study) benefits the feeling of connectedness as well as the physical and mental health of nearby communities, the perceived degradation or disrepair of that space is a negative contributor to well-being.

• Property values increase within close proximity to frequently-used, well-maintained public greenspaces. Businesses often decide to locate in communities with these amenities, especially with well-maintained greenspaces deterring property crime.

"As resident volunteers clean up litter along trails, parks, and greenspace, we start a new tradition that instills the importance of maintaining the natural beauty of our environment,” says Jing Tao, Environment Manager for KC Water and KCMO Urban Core captain. “The event combines maintaining a healthy lifestyle with maintaining a space for posterity to enjoy. And our communities are all connected…we, as a region, are doing our part to reduce one common pollutant in the larger river sytem.”

In 2021, the grassroots event organized a total of 118 volunteers across six counties. Organizers hope that the idea of "plogging" catches on outside of the event, and stress that you don't have to be a runner to plog. MARC Water Quality program director Synthia Isah says, "It's about being prepared with protective gloves or eco-friendly dog bags always on you, so you can pick up your community greenspaces whenever you can."