Join In - Volunteer
Joining and supporting a volunteer group is an effective way to help combat illegal dumping alongside proper trash disposal. Many groups focus on a singular goal, which leads to increased effectiveness. There are a number of volunteer organizations that parallel illegal dumping. Here, we have listed the names of a few such groups along with brief descriptions.
Interested in a volunteer group that isn’t currently offered where you live? Use your favorite search engine to find your desired organization and peruse their sight for information on how to start a local group in your area. Also, visit your city’s or county’s website to discover additional volunteer opportunities such as neighborhood cleanups.
Adopt-a-Highway
Adopt-a-Highway is a nationally and internationally recognized litter-prevention effort. Adopt a two-mile stretch of highway and pick up litter. Individuals, families, youth organizations, businesses (large and small), civic and non-profit organizations, religious groups, fraternities, sororities, schools…everyone can participate! It’s a free, easy way for groups to beautify their communities. Visit website
Don’t Mess With Texas Trash-Off
The Trash-Off encourages Texans across the state to join forces and clear Texas roadsides of trash. The Don’t mess with Texas Trash-Off is the single largest one-day cleanup event in the state and serves as Texas’s signature event for the Great American Cleanup, the nation's largest community improvement program. Sign up or participate with your local Adopt-A-Highway group. Visit website
Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful is the nation’s leading nonprofit that brings people together to build and sustain vibrant communities. By continually improving public spaces while caring for neglected ones, positive social and economic change occurs in communities across the country. More and more communities are joining our movement. Inquire through Keep America Beautiful or your local Keep Texas Beautiful city affiliate. Visit website
Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that stresses education and common sense (Stegenga, 2000). Bringing community members together to reestablish control of their neighborhoods promotes an increased quality of life and reduces the crime rate in that area. Visit website
The Great American Cleanup
Keep America Beautiful and its powerful network of community-based affiliates execute the Great American Cleanup in the spring of each year by launching service projects based on the knowledge and needs of local communities. Some of the activities include removing litter and debris, planting gardens, recycling items from cans to clothes, rebuilding public spaces, and restoring business storefronts and gateways. Visit website
Trinity Trash Bash
The Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) hosts the Trinity Trash Bash, an annual clean up event that targets multiple locations along the Trinity River. Pick a location and bring a group, a friend or just yourself to help clean up trash along the Trinity. The TRWD also list information for additional cleanups in the Tarrant region on their website. Visit website
Trash Free Waters - Trash Free Texas
The Trinity River Watershed "Adopt-a-Spot" site and online mapping tool was created to foster a litter-free environment in the Trinity River Basin and track trash removal activities. You can use the interactive adopt-a-spot online mapping tool to find available adopt-a-spots in your area. Visit website
Report Illegal Dumping Task Force
In the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan for North Central Texas, the vision of success for preventing illegal dumping in the region is to see that it is significantly reduced. In order to facilitate this endeavor, a Regional Solid Waste Management Plan Implementation subcommittee, Report Illegal Dumping (RID), was formed from the Resource Conservation Council. RID is made up of local government staff, public interest organizations, and private sector service providers. Click here for more information.