County Executive Olszewski Announces Fall Litter Blitz

TOWSON – Building on a successful spring initiative, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski invites County organizations and residents to conduct litter cleanups to remove litter that clutters our communities and pollutes our waterways. The Fall 2024 BaltCo Litter Blitz is a community-based outreach effort that runs through the month of November, and invites groups of any size in Baltimore County to “team up to tackle litter” by hosting community cleanups and mapping results on the interactive Litter Blitz hub website.

“Environmental action begins at home and in our communities, and it’s up to all of us to be good stewards of our local environment and take pride in our neighborhoods,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “Litter Blitz is a fun and impactful way we can make a difference together while protecting our neighborhoods and waterways for future generations.”
 
The Litter Blitz hub website provides details of the initiative, including a registration form, pickup locations for free supplies, an interactive map of cleanups and a tabulation of real-time results. Participating groups can register their events on the site, indicating if their cleanup is private or if they are seeking volunteers. People who wish to volunteer can locate a planned cleanup and find contact information to reach out to event organizers.
 
“The 2024 Spring Litter Blitz took place in April and May, with 64 registered cleanups resulting in volunteers collecting 1,255 bags of trash,” said Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability Director Horacio Tablada. “That's about 20,000 pounds of litter that didn't end up in our waterways and eventually the Chesapeake Bay.”
 
Ongoing Anti-Litter Programs
 
In addition to this one-month Litter Blitz promotion, residents and organizations have many ways they can participate in the County’s year-round anti-litter efforts.  
 
Through the County’s Adopt-a-Road program, registered groups of volunteers pick up litter along a designated section of County roadway at least four times per year. Eligible adopters include civic and nonprofit organizations, school groups, commercial and private enterprises, families and individuals.

County Code Enforcement inspectors conduct commercial dumpster sweeps and educational outreach to encourage compliance with regulations designed to prevent overflow and spillage of trash. People may report concerns about litter or dumping by filing a code complaint on the Baltimore County website, via the BaltCoGo app, or by calling 311.

The County’s Litter-Smart Business program offers real-world advice and resources for effective waste management, as well as encouraging litter prevention and removal. Businesses and other organizations may register on the interactive Litter Smart Business dashboard.
 
The Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge invites groups and individuals to help their favorite Baltimore County public school win an environmental project grant by conducting 15-minute litter cleanups anywhere in Baltimore County, and submitting their results on the Clean Green 15 hub website. Winning schools earn environmental grants to fund school-based environmental projects and nature education opportunities for students. This program is a joint initiative of the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability and Baltimore County Public Schools.