FBA restarts Keeping Fallbrook Litter Free Program

FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Beautification Alliance's Keeping Fallbrook Litter Free rekindled their group's efforts to remove litter from Fallbrook's roadways and waterways, with ongoing individual litter cleanups beginning June 14.

Emphasis was on litter removal in individual neighborhoods or wherever volunteers enjoy walking or hiking. When and where litter is cleaned up is completely up to those residents participating in the program. The group is comprised entirely of volunteers who have pledged to help keep Fallbrook litter free.

The volunteers had ceased cleanups during the worst of the COVID-19 epidemic, but with increased emphasis on safe handling of litter and recycling and working in small groups or individually, the group is ready to get back to work.

To stay safe, participants are asked to work independently or in family units, maintaining social distancing. Additionally, the organization requests that anyone heading out to pick up litter or recycling, use the following personal protective equipment: gloves, litter grabbers and face masks.

Litter and recycling may be collected in 5-gallon buckets or those single use plastic bags that are in use again at most grocery stores. All are asked to separate recycling from litter and recycle all items that meet recycling criteria in blue recycle bins at home.

During the ongoing COVID-19 reopening phase, the group will continue to suspend monthly group cleanups and ask that anyone interested in volunteering individually or as a team, review and sign the updated safety pledge form which may be found at http://www.fallbrookbeautification.org. Contact information for this program may be found on the website as well.

The goal of the program is to create a litter-free Fallbrook. The program consists of 20 zones, covering 49 square miles. Each area has an assigned zone captain. The ongoing program, with neighbors working together, will encourage pride at the neighborhood level while keeping the village litter free. The program also provides community service credits to young volunteers in need of service hours.

All those participating in the Keeping Fallbrook Litter Free program are asked to submit, at the end of each month, data on how much litter/recycling was collected. Data can be submitted via email or text to the Keeping Fallbrook Litter Free coordinator and should include: location of litter pickup, amount collected or 5-gallon bucket equivalent and volunteer hours.

This data is tracked by the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance and available to all participants. It is an extraordinary effort, and one that was recognized by San Diego County in 2019 as a program that is dedicated to the best ideals of public service.

Any photos submitted to FBA by volunteers of their cleanup efforts, may on occasion be posted on the FBA website, Facebook page or local newspapers. For more information on this program or the many other community enhancement projects spearheaded by the FBA, visit http://Fallbrookbeautification.org.

Submitted by the Fallbrook Beautification Alliance.