A Litter Bit Better
Litter Bit Better is a weeklong event held every April that invites our community to work together to pick up litter in Rochester. Volunteers represent neighborhoods, businesses, service groups, schools, faith groups, sport teams, clubs, and more. Teams scour ditches, parks, waterways and boulevards picking up tons of trash.
This effort started in 2007 when several residents approached former Mayor Ardell Brede with the idea of a citywide litter cleanup effort to build a “trash mountain.” Mayor Brede convened a team of organizers to form a steering committee and create our annual event to “Help make Rochester a Litter Bit Better.” Over 1,000 volunteers picked up over 20,000 pounds of trash in the first year.
Litter Bit Better strives to have more and more people picking up less and less litter every year. Through the annual event, participants learn about the negative impacts of litter to a community and to the environment.
Litter Bit Better Registration
We remind and encourage community members to:
- avoid throwing trash and cigarette butts on the ground or out the car window
- bag trash before placing it in your curbside bin to prevent loose trash blowing out of a haulers’ truck
- put the lid on tight for your curbside trash and recycling bins to prevent items from blowing away in windy conditions
- learn which items can be recycled and which items belong in the trash
Browse the information below to learn how you can help make Rochester A Litter Bit Better this year.
Event Partners
Litter Bit Better is a community-wide volunteer effort and we couldn’t do it without the generous donations from our sponsors and enthusiastic involvement from our partners!
- Arnold’s Supply and Kleenit Company
- City of Rochester
- Durst Outdoor Services
- Olmsted County Environmental Resources
- RNeighbors, Rochester Neighborhood Resource Center
- Waste Management
With the help of generous sponsors, the event has been a success each year.
If you are interested in being a sponsor, contact Rachel Strauss, 507-328-2440.
Your contribution provides the resources that allow thousands of volunteers throughout Rochester to scour ditches, parks, waterways, and boulevards to pick up tons of trash!