On March 28-29, 2025, the region came together for the annual Hampton Roads Great American Cleanup Kickoff event. Each year, askHRgreen.org rallies volunteers from across the 757 to care for their communities with litter cleanups and community beautification projects. The two-day cleanup initiative is powered by thousands of volunteers and marks the start of an entire season of cleanup activities focused on protecting local waterways and keeping Hampton Roads a cleaner, more beautiful place to live. Clean communities are healthy communities. They attract business and visitors, protect and encourage investment, and improve quality of life for those who live there.
askHRgreen.org is pleased to report that more than 3,400 volunteers worked together across 318 different locations during the Hampton Roads Great American Cleanup Kick-off. Volunteers from businesses big and small, military commands, non-profits, civic leagues, schools, local government staff, and neighborhood associations worked hand-in-hand to recover 5,198 bags of litter. That’s an estimated 135,400 pounds of litter or nearly 68 tons. Put into perspective, that’s the weight of SIX school buses.
In addition to clearing litter, volunteers landscaped parks and public spaces, planted trees, and pulled hundreds of tires from illegal dump sites. Such widespread impact would not have been possible without engaged and committed volunteers who help send the message that their communities are cared for. The kick-off event highlights the impact we can make when we unite as one region working towards a common goal: keeping Hampton Roads beautiful!
Keeping Up the Momentum
While the results of the 2025 cleanup are worthy of celebration, the work for a clean Hampton Roads is far from over. Many high-litter areas require ongoing attention, and volunteers are needed for litter cleanups and community beautification projects throughout the year. Consider getting involved with Clean the Bay Day in June (organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation) or International Coastal Cleanup this fall (led in Virginia by Clean Virginia Waterways). In addition to volunteering, here are some easy ways you can keep Hampton Roads litter-free and beautiful:
- Secure outdoor trash cans to prevent accidental spills and windblown litter.
- Pack it in, pack it out. When visiting local parks or beaches, make a plan for securing and properly disposing of all your trash.
- Ditch disposables. Reduce your overall waste generation by choosing reusable alternatives to popular disposable products like straws, water bottles, food wrappers, and other single use plastics.
Let’s keep the momentum going, Hampton Roads! Together, we can make Hampton Roads cleaner, greener, and more beautiful—every day of the year.
