More than 90 pounds of tobacco product waste collected during past five annual events

Vancouver, WA – Volunteers will gather Saturday, Oct. 22, for the sixth annual The Butt Stops Here cleanup to remove cigarette butts and other litter from parks.

Volunteer programs for Clark County and the city of Vancouver are coordinating the cleanup, which will be held in conjunction with Make a Difference Day.

The event will begin with a brief orientation and refreshments at 9 a.m. in the Bud Van Cleve Community Room at Luke Jensen Sports Park, 4000 N.E. 78th St. Volunteers will break into small groups and fan out to parks and public areas in Vancouver and unincorporated Clark County. Volunteers must provide their own transportation.

Organizers will have a list of parks, but they encourage volunteers to come with a specific park in mind.

At 11:30 a.m., volunteers will return to the sports park to weigh bags of cigarette butts and enjoy a lunch provided by Blind Onion Pizza.

Since the first The Butt Stops Here cleanup in October 2011, volunteers have removed more than 90 pounds of cigarette butts from our parks and open spaces. Cigarette butts ‒ each weighs about one-tenth of an ounce ‒ are the most commonly found litter in the world and account for an estimated 32 percent of litter in parks and recreation areas.

“Last year, nearly 140 volunteers participated in The Butt Stops Here cleanup,” said Karen Llewellyn, volunteer program coordinator for Clark County Public Works. “We’re expecting another great turnout as we celebrate this important national day of service.”

Volunteers need to dress for the weather and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves, but organizers will provide gloves, if needed. Organizers will provide garbage bags.

Volunteers are asked to sign up online at parkhero.org.

CONTACT
Karen Llewellyn
Volunteer Program Coordinator
Public Works
(360) 397-6118 ext. 1627
karen.llewellyn@clark.wa.gov