The Great Arkansas Cleanup: A win-win for Arkansas’ communities and economy

Arkansas is renowned for its natural beauty, but keeping “The Natural State” pristine requires every Arkansan to play a part. Keep Arkansas Beautiful’s Great Arkansas Cleanup (GAC), an effort encouraging Arkansans to host and participate in cleanups in all 75 counties, is an opportunity to beautify the state while investing in its economy.

During the 2023 GAC, more than 22,500 volunteers contributed 147,230 hours to remove 636 tons of litter from Arkansas’ roadways, waterways and public spaces. Their efforts spanned 2,100 miles of roads, 327 miles of waterways and shorelines, and 772,000 acres of public areas.

These cleanups help ensure that Arkansas remains an inviting destination for visitors, businesses and new residents alike. By participating in a cleanup this October, you are helping to protect Arkansas’ scenic landscapes—making the state a more beautiful place for residents and visitors alike.

Tourism is Arkansas’ second-largest industry, making the protection of its landscapes not just a cultural or environmental goal, but an economic imperative that requires cooperation from all Arkansans. This vital industry draws millions of visitors each year who come to enjoy the state’s outdoor recreation, scenic beauty and cultural heritage.

Visitor spending supports jobs and generates revenue that benefits local communities and funds essential services. To keep tourism thriving, Arkansas must maintain its reputation as a clean and welcoming destination.

Arkansas’ natural beauty also attracts new residents. United Van Lines ranked Arkansas as the #4 state for inbound movers in its 2023 Annual National Movers Study, with a 60.1% inbound move rate. New residents are drawn by the job opportunities, low cost of living and scenic beauty offered by Arkansas. To sustain this growth, Arkansas must ensure its public spaces remain inviting.

However, maintaining Arkansas’ natural beauty is a big job. The state has 100,000 acres of public roadside along its 16,367 miles of highways, 9,700 miles of streams and 600,000 acres of lakes, and litter is a persistent problem. From cigarette butts – the most common form of litter in Arkansas — to plastic bottles and food wrappers, litter mars the landscape. According to Keep Arkansas Beautiful, the value of volunteer cleanup efforts across the state exceeds $4 million annually. But there is still more to do.

Littering is not just an environmental problem—it’s also an economic issue. When prospective businesses tour communities, they want to see vibrant, clean areas where their companies can thrive. A littered environment sends the message that residents don’t care about their community’s future, and that discourages investment. This directly affects the local economy, potentially deterring businesses and the best talent from investing in the state.

Participating in the Great Arkansas Cleanup is a win-win—it improves our communities and contributes to the state’s economy. Arkansas’ promotion of outdoor activities like biking, climbing, watersports and hunting attracts many visitors to Arkansas. However, it’s up to all of us to ensure that the Southern hospitality that Arkansans are known for extends to the cleanliness of our state’s roadways, communities and natural environments.

For students, another benefit of participation is that the GAC can also count towards service-learning hours, which are requirements for graduation from Arkansas high schools.

Whether you’re an individual, part of a school group, civic organization or business, there’s a way for everyone to get involved. Visit KeepArkansasBeautiful.com to register your event or find cleanup efforts happening across the state during October.

By participating in the Great Arkansas Cleanup, you are maintaining the state’s natural landscapes while supporting its economic future. A cleaner Arkansas encourages tourists to return, businesses to invest and new residents to settle down. Together, we can ensure Arkansas remains “The Natural State” for generations to come.

Register today at KeepArkansasBeautiful.com and make a difference.

Editor’s note: Shea Lewis is the secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.