Communities throughout the Northland helped clean up the environment for Earth Day. Superior residents pitch in for a city-wide cleanup throughout the month of April. This year, the city saw record breaking numbers, with hundreds of people signing up to clean parks, trails, but also ice rinks. These volunteers are showing how much they care about the environment, by helping out year-round.

Close to 500 Superior residents pitch in across Superior, dedicating their time and effort to keep the city free from litter. It’s a also nearly month-long initiative for the citywide-clean up. One volunteer is 4th grader Bryn Lee. She and her friends have spent the morning picking up garbage at Wade Bowl park.

“We go around our neighborhood and at school to pick up garbage. It feels nice that we have everybody to help us,” Lee said. “I like going outside and helping the environment. We found a lot of cigarettes. It’s been sad to see how much litter people thrown away.”

The City of Superior’s Environmental Services Division says cigarette butts, and pieces of plastic are also incredibly toxic to our waterways, and harmful to local wildlife. Water Resource Specialist Megan Hogfeldt says teaching younger generations about the importance of keeping the city clean of litter is also critical to preserving the environment.

“Tobacco products are the number one found item internationally in litter cleanups. So that’s a big focus today, talking about what students find,” Hogfeldt said. “Fourth graders are really fun because it’s a great age for them to learn about the importance of cleanups. It’s a great way for them to take and take care of their community in such a simple act.”

Keeping Superior clean of litter isn’t something we do just on Earth Day. The city’s adopt-a-program also encourages volunteers to continue their obligations year-round.