Keep Columbus Beautiful

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Keep Columbus Beautiful is a City of Columbus community improvement program and a national affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Keep Columbus Beautiful focuses on public education and volunteer service related to quality of life environmental issues including litter, recycling and beautification.

For more information, please email keepcolumbusbeautiful@columbus.gov.


Register, Report, and Resources

Find the forms to organize a community cleanup, Adopt-An-Area and more!

Litter Index
The City of Columbus 2024 Litter Index is a map-based survey of the litter conditions of the city’s streets, parks and recreation sites.

Columbus Litter League
Play Ball & End Littering in Columbus!

Volunteer Events and Ongoing Projects

Explore all of the ways you can help keep Columbus clean and beautiful

Custom Day of Service

Investing in our community starts with you!

Keep Columbus Beautiful's Custom Day of Service allows companies and organizations to invest in a service opportunity of their choice.  The Columbus Beautiful staff is dedicated to making your custom day of service impactful and fun for your company.  We provide the project, handle all logistics, and supply all necessary materials. This is an excellent opportunity to engage your clients, employees, and their family members.

Upcoming Events

Green Columbus 2025 Earth Day Celebration

Date: Sunday, April 27

Time: 11 am – 7 pm

Location: Scioto Audubon Metro Park (400 W Whittier St, Columbus, OH 43215)

 

Description:

Keep Columbus Beautiful is excited to join Green Columbus for its 2025 Earth Day Celebration at Scioto Audubon Metro Park. This family-friendly event will feature:

·       Live local music

·       Fun activities for kids and adults

·       Booths from sustainability-focused vendors and nonprofits

·       Delicious food and drinks

Come out and celebrate the planet we all call home!

Learn More

Foraging for All: A Community Clean-Up and Pollinator Walk

Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m. – Sunset

Location: Near The Bee Collective (W Town St, just east of Land Grant)

 

Description:

Join Luke Howard, founder of The Bee Collective and a 2024 COSI Sci Fest STEAM Star honoree, along with local forager and culinary expert Chef Lorenzo, for a unique and interactive experience exploring foraging from the perspectives of humans and bees.

Participants will learn about the symbiotic relationship between pollinators and the plants we all depend on while actively helping the environment through a neighborhood trash cleanup. This event combines sustainability education, hands-on environmental stewardship, and a celebration of urban ecology.

Come ready to walk, learn, and lend a hand as we kick off the 2025 COSI Science Festival community events!

Reserve your spot

 

COSI Science Festival: Big Science Celebration


Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Scioto Peninsula (surrounding COSI)

Description:
Wrap up the 2025 COSI Science Festival with the Big Science Celebration—a free, family-friendly event packed with discovery, learning, and fun!

Explore over 100 exhibitor stations featuring hands-on science activities led by STEAM professionals, researchers, and experts across Central Ohio. The Scioto Peninsula will come alive with interactive exhibits, live performances, food trucks, and more—all surrounding the iconic COSI campus.

Don’t miss this exciting day of science, community, and curiosity for all ages!

Learn More

Building a Bee Motel

Date: Thursday, May 8

Time: 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 pm

Location: Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (1777 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43203)

 

Description:

Did you know that many bees don’t live in hives? Some bees, like mason bees and leafcutter bees, need safe spaces to rest and lay eggs. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll learn about the importance of pollinators, how habitat loss affects them, and how we can help by building our bee motels! 

 

Register Now

 

Community Dog Walk & Litter Clean-Up
Date: Sunday, May 18
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center (4340 Tamarack Blvd, Columbus, OH 43229)

Description:

Keep Columbus Beautiful is teaming up with the Franklin County Dog Shelter for a heartwarming and impactful community event! Take a shelter dog out for a walk and help clean up litter along the way—it’s a win for the pups and the planet.

This unique volunteer opportunity combines pet adoption awareness with environmental stewardship. Whether you're looking to give back, get some fresh air, or maybe even meet your future furry friend, we’d love to have you join us!

All clean-up supplies will be provided. 

See you there

Education Opportunities

Youth Education

Keep Columbus Beautiful offers free youth education programming to classrooms, youth clubs, day camps, afterschool programs, community groups, and more! Educational services are available to students of all ages, including those in elementary, middle, and high school. Programming is designed with learning standards in mind and is tailored to your group's specific needs, featuring a range of activities, including workshops, presentations, lessons, and more.

Download Resources

 

Adult Education

Keep Columbus offers free adult education programming to businesses, neighborhood groups, faith-based organizations, private clubs, civic organizations, universities, and more. Programming is tailored to your group's needs in the form of workshops, presentations, lessons, & more.

Adopt an Area

Join the Adopt-an-Area program to help keep our streets clean and litter-free. Adopting groups take care of roads and surrounding public spaces throughout Columbus, picking up trash along their adopted street segment. Participating in Adopt-an-Area is a great way to show civic pride, engage with colleagues and friends, and build community ties.

Partner With Us
Creating a partnership with Keep Columbus Beautiful benefits Columbus' most important asset - its neighborhoods.

Waste and Reuse Convenience Center(PDF, 889KB)

Learn more about the Division of Refuse Collection Waste and Reuse Convenience Centers.