I asked last week for locations where anyone has noticed trash and the answers came flying in! Shop Local Delmarva readers named streets throughout Wicomico County and a few were mentioned more than once. The trash is out there and it is an eyesore! While anyone can do a good deed and pick up trash at any time, the county Department of Public Works is trying for a massive community clean up, the 2023 Trash Bash during one week in September. Shop Local Delmarva, we are getting involved!

The next few weeks will give residents, businesses and organizations time to mobilize and create teams to beautify a street of their choosing for #cleanupwicomico. Heather Lankford, acting director of public works, said calls about litter comprise most of the complaints to the department. The county is responsive to those calls and picks up what it can, she said, but the county is large. It’s a lot of ground to cover.

Lankford said individuals contacted the department recently to ask if volunteers are needed for trash pickup, and from that, an idea was born for a week-long contest. 

“I wanted to make something that is not so appealing into something a little more fun and have the community really see what we can achieve together,” she explained. People can sign up online for one of the many streets listed, or one of their own choosing, and then have some fun with the friendly competition.

From Sunday, Sept. 17 to Saturday, Sept. 23, groups such as non-profits, clubs, churches, municipalities, youth groups, anybody can meet to collect trash. Cities could challenge one another; neighborhoods could compete and businesses could take extra pride in their surroundings. This is terrific way for students to earn community service hours, too. At the end of the week, certificates will be given out for the best team name, furthest mileage covered (keep track of your distance on a free app like Strava, it makes it easy), and most tonnage collected. One more category, the craziest piece of trash, is certain to provide some interesting entries, as anyone who has picked up trash in the past can attest.

When it comes to picking up trash, the most important rule is SAFETY FIRST. The county will provide orange safety vests, gloves, grabbers and bags, but remember, you’ll be along the edge of roads so please be extra cautious. Team leaders can arrange to obtain supplies prior to the pickup, then they can contact the county afterwards for the bags to be collected on site.

While there were many excellent suggestions for trash clean ups, I had to narrow it down to make three teams for Shop Local Delmarva. I am hopeful for a big turn out for each pickup, but if these times don’t work for you, pick another time and get a team together. Picking up trash does not sound too exciting, but I’ve done it a lot and I guarantee you’ll feel a big sense of accomplishment and pride in contributing to the betterment of the community. And you’ll be helping keep trash out of our many waterways across Delmarva. 

Here are the teams I've created for Shop Local Delmarva:

1.    Clean Up Delmarva, Brick Kiln Road. Sunday, Sept. 17, 12 – 2 p.m.

2.    Rubbish Roundup, Parsons Road. Tuesday, Sept. 19, 9 – 11 a.m.

3.   Trash Troops, St. Luke’s Road, Fruitland. Thursday, Sept. 21, 2 – 4 p.m.

If you can help with any of those, for the company, write in Shop Local Delmarva, then select Other in the list of locations and write your choice. Also, if you are setting up your own team, you can let them know if you need all the supplies, and not only one item on the list.

I’m excited to see how much we can gather and to make our roads looks a lot better! Let me know if you’re joining one of these teams so I can be sure to obtain enough bags, vests and gloves. We came together to Shop Local, now let’s Clean Up Local and get this trash off our roadways!

“Loving the county we live in, this can be an opportunity to take part in a big movement to #cleanupwicomico together,” Lankford said. “The goal is to make this a yearly thing, and hopefully have a Trash Bash competition between counties until it spreads and assists in the change to better educate individuals on trash/recycling and how roadside litter can be such a negative thing for all.”