PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) \u2014 With Earth Day coming up Wednesday, SOLVE is kicking off celebrations early with community cleanups aimed at getting more people involved in protecting the environment.<\/p>\n
Volunteers gathered at Lents Park to pick up litter on Saturday as part of Earth Month efforts organized by SOLVE. <\/p>\n
Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE, an environmental nonprofit, said the cleanup at Lents Park was \u201cpart of one of over 200 events we\u2019ve got going on for Earth Month,\u201d and was done in partnership with the Portland Pickles and Portland General Electric.<\/p>\n
Carico said about 65 people turned out for the Lents Park cleanup, using litter grabbers and bags to collect trash throughout the neighborhood. She said volunteers <\/a>quickly returned with full bags.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time it surprises me,\u201d Carico said of how much trash is collected. \u201cIt surprises the volunteers as well, because you might look down and think things are pretty clean. But then you come back with a full bag of trash and you see the cumulative efforts of everybody as well that have come back.\u201d<\/p>\n Carico said the work is about more than appearances, pointing to the impact litter can have on waterways. \u201cIt\u2019s about keeping our environment and our waterways clean,\u201d she said. \u201cAbout 80% of marine debris starts on land. So when we are cleaning it up at the source and it doesn\u2019t go out to the sea, that\u2019s really important.\u201d<\/p>\n She said Earth Day cleanups are also meant to strengthen neighborhoods and encourage young people to get involved.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s more than just picking up trash, it\u2019s about building community and getting kids out so that we\u2019re building that legacy of stewardship and getting them young to learn how it should take care of our community,\u201d Carico said.<\/p>\n Another community cleanup is planned for Wednesday, Earth Day, in downtown Portland. <\/p>\n Carico said SOLVE expects about 300 to 400 people to participate, with volunteers spreading out to clean up around Waterfront Park.<\/p>\n