Photo: SOLVE
Portlanders came out in full-force during SOLVE’s fifth annual Pick It Up, Portland! event, presented by Pacific Power. During this two-day, city wide litter cleanup event a total of 1,515 volunteers removed an estimated 14,025 pounds of trash from business fronts, parks, and neighborhoods at 25 projects throughout the Rose City.
SOLVE’s litter cleanups make a big impact on the health and cleanliness of Portland’s neighborhoods. On Friday, June 25 SOLVE staff hosted six cleanups that took place on both the west and east side of the city. Today, community members took the reins, hosting 19 additional cleanups in their own neighborhoods or favorite parks as SOLVE Event Leaders.
Pick It Up, Portland! occurred at a pivotal moment for our city. As the state of Oregon begins to reopen, many community members are seeking to join an effort that makes their home a cleaner and more welcoming place. The sheer number of volunteers participating in Pick It Up, Portland! speaks to how many are wanting to aid in this cleanup effort.
From Seaside beaches to Portland parking lots, Pacific Power employees have pitched in with SOLVE to pick up for over a decade. “Pacific Power has shown support for the community, and the environment, in many ways, including by partnering with SOLVE. The tremendous amount of employee involvement in Pick It Up, Portland! highlights their drive to keep Portland clean and free of litter,” says Kris Carico, SOLVE’s CEO.
This year, Pacific Power volunteers met at Holladay Park and removed 1,600 pounds of trash from the park surrounding neighborhood.
“Pacific Power and SOLVE both share a deep commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Alisa Dunlap, Regional Business Manager. Supporting litter cleanups is a simple yet effective way to support our communities and ensure our city and waterways are free from litter.”
In 2021 alone, SOLVE has removed a total of 180,482 pounds of litter from the city of Portland, the equivalent of over 90 tons, all through volunteer efforts.
Along with Pacific Power, Pick It Up, Portland! was sponsored by the City of Portland, Ethos Commercial Advisors, Metro, Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc., PepsiCo, Bottle Drop, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLC, and Portland Lodging Alliance.
Source: SOLVE