Litter Prevention & Cleanup

Keep Odessa Beautiful provides continual public awareness messages stating that littering is a behavior that must be changed!

Littering is unacceptable because:

  • It creates a visible "eye sore" in our community

  • Poses a threat to our health & safety

  • Can potentially defer economic prosperity

  • Costs taxpayers thousands to cleanup our community

  • And most of all…it’s against the law!

    Did you know? Motorists and pedestrians are often blamed for litter. There are actually seven (7) primary sources that contribute to littered communities:

  • Household trash handling and its placement for collection; dumpster lids are not closed properly or not closed at all after dumping trash!

  • Dumpsters used by commercial businesses

  • Loading docks

  • Construction or demolition sites

  • Trucks with uncovered loads

  • Pedestrians

  • Motorists

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    Litter is often blown away by wind and traffic and/or carried by water. Litter moves until it is trapped by a curb, building or fence. Once litter has accumulated, it invites people to add more!!

    You can make a difference by:

  • PREVENTING  LITTER

  • PICKING  UP  LITTER  WHEN  IT’S  VISIBLE  TO  YOU

  • VOLUNTEERING  FOR  COMMUNITY  CLEANUPS

  • ORGANIZE  YOUR  OWN  NEIGHBORHOOD  CLEANUP

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    a program of Keep Odessa Beautiful that focuses on volunteer groups that adopt locations including public parks throughout the City of Odessa (city limits).

    The program requirements: A group must agree to cleanup their adopted location two (2) times per year. Once during the Don’t Mess with Texas Trash Off (April) and the Odessa Pride Make a Difference Day (October).

    A twelve (12) month agreement is signed by the volunteer group. Keep Odessa Beautiful posts a sign at the adopted location and provides all cleanup supplies for the Adopt-a-Spot group.

    If a group is interested in adopting a location within the City of Odessa city limits, contact Keep Odessa Beautiful at 333-1299 or email: kob@apex2000.net .

     


    Adopt - a - Highway Litter Prevention Program:
    a program of the Texas Department of Transportation that focuses on volunteer groups that adopt a 2 mile stretch on State Highways.

    The program requirements: A group must agree to cleanup their adopted 2 mile location two (2) times per year. Once during the Don’t Mess with Texas Trash Off (April) and the Odessa Pride Make a Difference Day (October).

    A two (2) year agreement is signed by the volunteer group. The Texas Department of Transportation posts a sign on the adopted 2 mile highway and provides all cleanup supplies for the Adopt-a-Highway group.

    If a group is interested in adopting a highway, contact the Texas Department of Transportation at 432-498-4746.
     

    Adopt-a-County Road Litter Prevention Program
     a program of Ector County that focuses on volunteer groups that adopt a 2 mile stretch on County Roads.

    The program requirements: A group must agree to cleanup their adopted 2 mile location two (2) times per year. Once during the Don’t Mess with Texas Trash Off (April) and the Odessa Pride Make a Difference Day (October).

    A two (2) year agreement is signed by the volunteer group. Ector County posts a sign on the adopted 2 mile county road and provides all cleanup supplies for the Adopt-a-County Road group.

    If a group is interested in adopting a county road, contact Ector County at 432-498-4001.



     

    Annual Community-wide Cleanups:
    Keep Odessa Beautiful coordinates two annual community wide cleanups for which thousands of volunteers choose to participate in these events:

    • Don’t Mess with Texas Trash Off (April)

    • Odessa Pride Make a Difference Day (October)

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    For each community-wide cleanup event, Keep Odessa Beautiful recognizes volunteer groups after the cleanup by hosting a "Trash Bash Picnic" at one of the City of Odessa public parks.  Each volunteer receives a commemorative t-shirt and has the opportunity to share friendships, feast and win prizes!

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    Keep Odessa Beautiful coordinates continual "smaller based" cleanups with numerous volunteer groups throughout the year by cleaning up parks, vacant lots, streets and neighborhoods!

    (See Calendar of Events for exact dates)



     

    Planet Troopers Summer Cleanup Program:
    A program of Keep Odessa Beautiful that focuses on youth participating during the summer months to cleanup public parks.

    Youth are encouraged to participate in the cleanup of public parks during the summer months. Participating youth that cleanup receive 7 FREE SWIMMING PASSES that entitles youth to swim at the four (4) public swimming pools of their choice.


     



     

    Ector County Work Release Inmate cleanup Program:
    This program is a partnership among Keep Odessa Beautiful, the City of Odessa and Ector County.

    This program began in 2002 with the primary focus of allowing work release inmates the opportunity to work off their time by cleaning up public property. The Ector County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for ensuring that a Deputy supervises inmates cleaning up trash on public properties.