Solano County, Earth Day Cleanup
For the past 11 years, the Solano Resource Conservation District (Solano RCD) located in Solano County (Northern California) leads the charge on Solano County’s three major community cleanup events—Coastal Cleanup Day, Earth Day Cleanup, and World Environment Day.
These events bring residents together to clear trash and recyclables from parks, streets, waterways, and open spaces and help protect and beautify outdoor spaces we all enjoy. The Solano RCD motto is: Be a Part of the Movement, Keep Solano Clean and Green!
Solano RCD works closely with the California Coastal Commission, local cities, agencies, organizations, and grassroots groups to identify cleanup opportunities, share resources, and strengthen community engagement.
Solano RCD Education Director, Marianne Butler and Robyn Slater, Assistant Education Program Manager, do an amazing job with public outreach and inspiring people to action. Their team manages everything from coordinating supplies and promoting events to hosting an annual planning meeting for city leaders. After each event, Solano RCD compiles and shares a detailed summary of the impact made across the county.
Despite a drizzly morning, volunteers were not deterred and ready to get to work to make their outdoor spaces cleaner for Earth Day (April 26) and as a part of the Clean Earth Challenge. Each city in Solano County hosted at least one site across 11 different locations. A total of 212 dedicated volunteers participated and collected an amazing 3, 738 pounds of trash and debris. Over the last 11 years of Earth Day events volunteers have collected a remarkable 63,381 pounds of trash.
Areas included: Ninth Street Park, Benicia; Lower Ledgewood Creek, Fairfield; Lower Union Avenue Creek, Suisun City; Grizzly Island Road, Suisun City; Suisun Waterfront, Suisun City; Lake Solano; Industrial Pond, Dixon; Sandy Beach Park, Rio Vista; Blue Rock Springs Creek, Vallejo; McGary Road, Vallejo; and Vacaville.
A variety of unusual items were collected by volunteers including a wooden topography map of the world, a voodoo doll with pins, a Santa hat, a cash register tray, a large “Snack Zone” sign, and a barnacle-covered lawn chair!
Volunteers of all ages enjoyed the experience! Jane S. commented, “I love being able to help my community be a cleaner and healthier place,” and three-year-old volunteer Micah (Blue Rock Springs Creek site) enthusiastically noted “This was so much fun!”
Next up for Solano RCD is the World Environment Day cleanup on June 7th at Lake Solano. This cleanup event works to keep Lake Berryessa, the county’s drinking water clean.
A big thank you to the Solano Resource Conservation District for helping to educate the public and inspire them to keep outdoor spaces healthy and clean. And of course a special thank you to all the amazing volunteers who helped make Earth Day a success!
