
At a park cleanup you see the waste problem first hand
Park cleanups can help connect the community and inspire change locally and on the broader stage.

Community members, local officials and state legislators spent the morning on Saturday, July 20th cleaning up at the local forest preserve in Forest Park, Illinois. League of Women Voters Oak Park River Forest and Environment Illinois worked together to host the cleanup as part of plastic free July to connect advocates and policymakers to the waste problem experienced in our natural areas every day.
The volunteers collected big litter like bottles and cans, plastic bags, balloons, plastic forks, straws and small pieces of plastic that were no longer recognizable, but were polluting the park. Working in small teams, participants focused their efforts in locations with high density of litter including along the brushline where lightweight items like food wrappers had accumulated after being caught by the wind.
I care about plastic pollution because it poses a danger to our health and environment. Taking personal responsibility for using less plastic is a first step to a real solution.Marsha Borders
League of Women Voters Oak Park River Forest Environment Committee


A successful park cleanup in July 2024 organized by League of Women Voters Oak Park River Forest and Environment Illinois.
Photo by Staff | TPIN

Illinois Representative Camille Lilly with Emily Kowalski and Marsha Borders at a park cleanup in July 2024 organized by League of Women Voters Oak Park River Forest and Environment Illinois.
Photo by Staff | TPIN

A volunteer at a park cleanup in July 2024 organized by League of Women Voters Oak Park River Forest and Environment Illinois.
Photo by staff | TPIN

Volunteers at a park cleanup in July 2024 organized by League of Women Voters Oak Park River Forest and Environment Illinois.
Photo by Staff | TPIN

Community members help clean up a park in celebration of plastic free July.
Photo by Staff | TPIN

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and Marsha Borders from League of Women Voters Oak Park River Forest at a park cleanup in July 2024
Photo by Staff | TPIN
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While we collected a lot of litter – about 15 bags worth of it – we also know that there is more to do.
Most of us have heard facts and statistics about the waste problem in the U.S. Facts like:
- Americans throw out 4.9 pounds of trash per person every day — that’s nearly 1,800 pounds of materials per American every year.
- 22 million pounds of plastic waste enter the Great Lakes every year.
- Plastic waste doesn’t biodegrade, which means that virtually every piece of plastic that has ever escaped into the environment is still out there.
By taking the time to clean up the park we were reminded of the big task ahead of us, but also of the potential to take action when we work together. We have solutions that will help reduce waste before it becomes litter in the park, but we need to choose to use those solutions. Phasing out the use of unnecessary and harmful single-use plastics like polystyrene foam cups and take-out containers, as Oak Park did in 2023, helps reduce that type of waste. Incentivizing bring your own container or reuse systems can help individuals and businesses choose less wasteful options.
Tackling the plastic pollution crisis is going to require action from all levels: individuals, businesses, schools, and our local, state and federal government. Connecting with each other and working together we can move toward a cleaner, greener future.Emily Kowalski
Environment Illinois Outreach & Engagement Manager

We hope you join us in advocating for more action to tackle the plastic pollution crisis.
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Emily Kowalski
Outreach & Engagement Manager, Environment Illinois
Emily manages the marketing and public engagement strategy for Environment Illinois's campaigns, including our campaign to protect the Great Lakes from plastic pollution. Emily lives in Chicago where she enjoys knitting and biking.
Marsha Borders
League of Women Voters Oak Park River Forest Environment Committee
Marsha organized the park cleanup July 20, 2024 as part of Plastic Free July.