Pick-Up Iowa
Photographer: Diane Ebert of Waterloo, IA
Join communities across Iowa in cleaning up our streets, rivers, and public spaces!
Keep Iowa Beautiful is calling on Iowans to help achieve our statewide goal of 2,500 volunteers to clean up litter across the state this spring.
You can participate by hosting an event in your community to pick up litter and trash along Iowa’s roadsides, neighborhoods, streets, school grounds, parks, or streams.
Who may participate?
Anyone can organize a group of volunteers to participate in Pick-Up Iowa! Organizations that often host pick-up events include: cities, community groups, service clubs, school groups, church groups, sports teams, families and friends, business employees, hunting and fishing clubs, Scouts, 4-H clubs and more.
When:
Schedule your Pick-Up Iowa event between April 1st and June 30th, 2025, at a date and time that works for your group. The sign-up form is below.
What is Pick-Up Iowa?
Pick-Up Iowa is an annual effort to pick up litter across the state of Iowa, through a series of locally organized pick-up events. Established in 2020, Pick-Up Iowa is part of Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest community improvement program. Pick-Up Iowa benefits communities by:
- Enhancing Community Amenities: Pick-Up Iowa beautifies parks, downtowns and other public spaces, which contributes to a vibrant and attractive community.
- Cultivating Local Leadership: Pick-Up Iowa promotes volunteer-led initiatives that bring residents together to improve their community.
- Fostering Civic Pride: When communities look well-cared for, it increases a sense of belonging and pride among residents.
- Boosting Economic Vitality: A town that looks its best is more attractive to businesses and visitors.
Resources For Your Pick-Up Iowa Event
How to Host a Community Pickup Event
Customizable social media graphics to promote your event (requires a free Canva account to edit)
What to Wear and Bring Infographic
Post-Event Report (please complete this report after your event)
Sign up!
Pick-Up Iowa 2025
"*" indicates required fields
2025 Pick-Up Iowa Cleanup Events:
| Organization | City |
| Western Dubuque Lions Club | Peosta, IA |
| Girl Scouts Troop 622 | Albia, IA |
| Girl Scouts Troop 1566 | Albia, IA |
| Horizon Group | West Des Moines, IA |
| City of Bondurant | Bondurant, IA |
| Carnegie-Evans Public Library | Albia, IA |
| RISE, Ltd. | Elkader, IA |
| Storm Lake Hometown Pride/Storm Lake Proud Week | Storm Lake, IA |
| North Cedar Neighborhood Association | Cedar Falls, IA |
| Bunko Babes | Bennett, IA |
| Fairfield Beautification Commission | Fairfield, IA |
| Girl Scouts Troop 1169 | Mount Ayr, IA |
| Imagine the Possibilities | Indianola, IA |
| Avoca Main Street, Inc. | Avoca, IA |
| Greenbush Acres | Indianola, IA |
| Indianola Downtown Mainstreet and Simpson College | Indianola, IA |
| Van Meter Parks & Recreation | Van Meter, IA |
| Naturally Clean 44 | Grimes, IA |
| City of Spencer | Spencer, IA |
| Lime Springs Park and Recreation Board | Lime Springs, IA |
| Girl Scouts Troop 01595 | Johnston, IA |
| Congregational United Church of Christ | Iowa City, IA |
| Adopt a Highway – Family of Merry Weld Dick and Marys & Marthas | Clarion, IA |
| City of Rickardsville | Rickardsville, IA |
| Rickardsville Hometown Pride | Rickardsville, IA |
| Keokuk Chamber of Commerce | Keokuk, IA |
| Otho Betterment Committee | Otho, IA |
| Lisbon High School Student Council | Lisbon, IA |
| Walker Hometown Pride | Walker, IA |
| Waterbury Neighborhood Association | Des Moines, IA |
| Missouri Valley Chamber of Commerce | Missouri Valley, IA |
| West Union Lions Club and North Fayette Valley Community School District Student Council | West Union, IA |
| Cedar Falls Volunteers | Cedar Falls, IA |
| Afton Development Corporation | Afton, IA |
| Clinton Community College | Clinton, IA |
| IASDA Philanthropy University of Iowa Dentistry | Iowa City, IA |
| Clarence Main Street | Clarence, IA |
| Ten Wasp Brewing Company | Sumner, IA |
| First Onsite | Des Moines, IA |
| City of Emerson | Emerson, IA |
| Norwalk Hometown Pride | Norwalk, IA |
| City of Primghar | West Okoboji, IA |
| City of Preston | Preston, IA |
| Pleasant Grove Heritage Park, Inc. | Lisbon, IA |
| Butler County Conservation | Allison, IA |
| Corteva Agriscience | Des Moines, IA |
| Association for the Preservation of Clear Lake | Clear Lake, IA |
| Gilmore City – Bradgate School/Gilmore City Hometown Pride | Gilmore City, IA |
| Early Achievers 4-H Club | Early, IA |
| Outdoor Pursuits | Cedar Rapids, IA |
| City of Alta | Alta, IA |
| Springville Hometown Pride | Springville, IA |
| Sibley Housing & Development Corporation | Sibley, IA |
| DeWitt Volunteers | DeWitt, IA |
| Floyd Valley Litter Getters | Alton, IA |
2024 Pick-Up Iowa Cleanup Event Highlights:
