Sioux City Times

On April 29, 2022, with the help of more than 1,100 volunteers, the city collected over 3.5 tons of litter during the annual Litter Dash. This effort has been recorded as the best collection turn out to date. However, the success of this event is not complete. Unfortunately, litter is a concern throughout the year and the city is asking for your help to continue the pride in working to reduce and eliminate litter.

The specific goal is to reduce the amount of trash polluting Iowa’s streams, lakes and rivers. This is accomplished through litter-free behavior and local trash clean-ups on land and in water. The pledge is to pick up 22 pieces of litter on the 22nd of every month through 2022. This is a long-term campaign to bring about behavioral change. The time it takes to pick up the litter around you can be minimal but will have a positive impact on the community. The campaign next year will be 23on23, and so forth.

Once we as consumers purchase a product, we need to be responsible by properly disposing the material that is left over. This effort continues to be a community effort and everyone’s help is needed.

Ways litter can make its way to the waters of our community

Storm Drains: Rain washes trash from paved surfaces

• Overflowing or uncovered trash bins- Please bag your garbage
• Spills from garbage collection- Please bag your garbage
• Litter from outdoor events, around businesses and public transit stops

Dumping: Illegal dumping of waste

• Dumping of household waste on land or in a stream
• Illegal encampments near water

Wind: Strong gusts of air moves litter

• Along highway on/off ramps
• Litter from uncovered truck beds and other moving vehicles
• Loose litter inside vehicles which blows out when getting in and out

To help encourage participation on the 22nd of each month, supplies are available for litter pick up efforts at the following locations:

• Sioux City Environmental Services

  4th floor of City Hall, 405 6th Street

  712-279-6349

• Sioux City Parks and Recreation

  Siouxland Expo Center

  550 Expo Center Drive

  712-279-6126

• Downtown Partners

  418 Pierce Street

  712-252-0014

Find more information on the 22on22 litter campaign at www.iowastormwater.org/campaigns/trash-free-land-trash-free-water and www.sioux-city.org/22on22

Keep your neighborhood trash free and take the 22on22 Pledge! 

Original source can be found here.