Apr 8, 2026
Janet sits down with John Keim from the Clarke County Litter Committee to talk about the county's Earth Day celebration and the ongoing effort to keep Clarke County clean and beautiful. They discuss how small, everyday actions can make a big difference — and how you can get involved no matter how much time you have.
Clarke County Earth Day Event Details
- Date: April 25th
- Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Location: Clarke County Fairgrounds
What to Expect:
- Community litter pickup (9:00 AM kickoff)
- Speaker: Ed Carter, Virginia Department of Transportation — Adopt-a-Highway program
- Rain barrel demonstration
- Glass bottle crushing demonstration
- Vendor booths from local environmental and community organizations
- Raffle and silent auction
- Face painting for kids
- Live music
- Food truck
Participating Organizations Include:
- Blandy Experimental Farm
- Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners
- Shenandoah River Keepers
- Blue Ridge Wildlife Center
- Clarke County Animal Shelter (accepting donations: adult dry cat food)
Key Takeaways
- You don't have to commit to hours of volunteering — even 20–30 minutes in your neighborhood makes an impact
- VDOT spends an estimated $9.3 million per year collecting trash; every bag picked up saves taxpayer dollars
- Trash near waterways can affect livestock and wildlife downstream
- Keeping roads clean discourages further littering
- The Litter Committee does pickups approximately once a month
Getting Kids Involved:
- Clarke County students have designed litter-awareness signs displayed around the county
- The committee is working to engage schools and younger students
- The Litter Committee sponsors a college scholarship for high school students focused on environmental awareness
How to Get Involved
- Website: https://www.clarkecounty.gov/government/boards-commissions/litter-committee
- Email: litterfree@clarkecounty.gov
- Can't make regular pickups? Consider adopting a stretch of road in your neighborhood or picking up trash on your daily walk