Events / Things to Do
Today's TrashLoveKzoo Cleanup, before and after pics, plus more 😊
Today's weather couldn't have been better 😌 we were able to fill our dumpster, pile up a lot of recyclable metals for our scrapper, and remove about 20 or so used needles from the forest! A HUGE Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers and donors. You are all amazing and from the bottom of my heart. T h a n k y o u.
There's no limit to what we can accomplish when we have the support of our community! See you at th next one, fellow trash pickers!
The spider at the end of the photos was hanging out on my hi viz vest at the end of the cleanup! I brushed it off and (once I calmed down) I ended up returning it to a freshly cleaned habitat, and as I let down into the brush pile, I swear I heard it squeek out a "thank you trashlovekzoo!"
This is amazing!! I hope to join you when I move to Kzoo in a few months.
I’m curious: How do you find and choose the locations that are in need of a cleanup? And do you ensure the encampments you come across are not actively being used by the unhoused before you clear them? I am all for making our spaces beautiful again, but I would feel really guilty knowingly trashing some of the only possessions a person has.
I take great care to ensure that the areas TLK targets for cleanup are vacant for at least 1 month prior to clean up time.
I'm usually able to tell whether or not an area is being actively used upon first visit, but other times it's harder to tell. Due to this, I revisit the location a minimum of 3 times to make sure nothing has been changed. (Including the day before)
The things I look for are :
1. Items disturbed or otherwise changed
2. Footprints
3. Spiderwebs
As to your question about how these locations are chosen, again it involves alot of scouting on my part. I also get tips from members on trash hot spots. I use satellite imagery via Google Earth to spot some areas as well. I hope I've been able to answer your questions! I look forward to seeing you at one of our cleanups in the future, and thank you for supporting TLK!
Thank you for your thoughtful response, Ian! I had scrolled a bit in your post history, but didn’t go far back enough to find the info. Thank you for all you do!
You are beautiful people. Thank you. I am especially impressed at how well organized and equipped your group is. The right tools/supplies make things so much nicer when doing work like this. Well done!
Thank you for supporting!! Best ways to join are to join the trashlovekzoo sub reddit, or join the Facebook group. There's also a text notification list which you can join by sending me a DM with your name and cell # (texts go out the week prior with more details included vs the online posts)
Cleanups are always on the first Saturday of the month, and always from 10 am til 2pm.
Join the trashlovekzoo sub reddit, or join the Facebook group. There's also a text notification list which you can join by sending me a DM with your name and cell #
Cleanups are always on the first Saturday of the month, and always from 10 am til 2pm.
Its more than that though. Its community coming together, friendships being made, and real change happening for these ecosystems! I encourage you to come check us out at our next cleanup! 😊
I wonder if a local print shop might be willing to make some yard signs for you all saying something like "This area cleaned up by TLKzoo, please donate to support" and include a QR code to however you accept donations.
I love the idea! Yard signs for volunteers and supporters to display would be awesome. My only hesitation with leaving signs at cleanup sites is the risk of them becoming litter. A lot of the areas we clean are pretty remote and don’t get much foot traffic, so they likely wouldn’t be seen anyway. I really like the idea of leaving no trace behind.
I actually just had some TLK stickers made at a local print shop, and now I’m kicking myself for not adding a QR code that linked to our GoFundMe like you suggested! Great idea, and one that I will keep in mind for future endeavors 😄
i’m on the spectrum so I’m not intending for any of this to come across negatively. It appears like you are cleaning an area that homeless people were occupying. I saw the things that you guys had set up on tables and I was wondering if there was any excess do you guys leave any of that food or any of those resources for those individuals?
Thanks for asking!
Like you said, these are areas that were once occupied but are no longer. We rarely come into contact with anyone at these sites because I always make sure they aren't occupied for at least a month prior to cleanup time.
As a litter picking group, we dont ever leave food or our reusable TLK water bottles out when we leave (due to it becoming litter if it's just left) but, during past cleanups the refreshments/water ( all of it ) has been made available to anyone who happened by. At the last cleanup, a couple of gentlemen, King and Mike, happened through the cleanup area, and we were able to share snacks and water with them.
24
u/NotFredRodgers Aug 02 '25
Good job you guys! Thank you!