Keep Carbondale Beautiful

Keep Carbondale Beautiful initiates, plans, and directs cooperative efforts in litter control, recycling, community beautification, and environmental education.

We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has been serving the Southern Illinois community since 1987 (initially as "Carbondale Clean & Green") and we are an affiliate of Keep Illinois Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful.

Our Executive Director, Anne Krippenstape l, has been interviewed again.
This time by Mike Baltz for his regular Southern Illinoisan section, Real Green People.
Thanks Mike, for shining a spotlight on beautiful natural spaces in and around Carbondale
and the people that help to keep them that way!
Check it out at the link below!
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/environment/real-green-people-keep-carbondale-beautiful-director-anne-krippenstapel/article_8d6712fb-4386-5a39-b088-771171945889.html

America Recycles Day (Nov 15) has come and gone, but we still wanted to reiterate the issue of single use plastics.

Single Use Plastics are generally only used ONE TIME.

This is horrible for the environment these single use plastics will be filling up landfills and the bellies of wild animals for years.

These are all examples of single use plastics.

We know that single use plastics are bad, but they're not going to go away anytime soon, so how can YOU help when it comes to single use plastics?

Always pack a reusable bag when shopping. (And yes—reusable totes are better for the environment than plastics, recent media claims aside.)
Cook more often, to reduce your use of plastic-heavy takeout containers.
Buy in bulk. Avoid individually packaged goods, like snack packs.
Though buying online sometimes has a lower carbon footprint than shopping in a store (s kip the express delivery option, if you can), online shipments are still chock-full of plastic. Your best bet to reduce your footprint and plastic waste? Walk, bike, or take public transit to buy in-person.
Avoid plastic wrap altogether by storing leftovers in reusable containers. Try reusable and compostable beeswax wrap for an easy and decorative option.
Buy a metal or bamboo reusable straw. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go.
Talk to the owners of the restaurants you frequent. Ask if they have nonplastic alternatives to plastic straws, stirrers, or bags.
Speak out in support of local plastic bans, whether by calling your local government representative, submitting an op-ed to your city’s newspaper, or simply starting conversations with neighbors.
Let companies that make your favorite products know that you care about the packaging. Tweet, call, or send letters to these companies to ask them to switch to more durable, recyclable, compostable, renewable, and/or recycled-content packaging with less fossil fuel–derived plastic.

You can also always go to https://berecycled.org/ to see where you can recycle various items safely near you.

Any kids, or adults that want to learn and have a little fun, can click here to play an informative "Super Sorter" browser-based, recycling game!

Knowing more about how plastics affect our environments and communities is a big first step towards helping.
Let's all do our part to Keep Carbondale Beautiful.

Recently, our Executive Director, Anne Krippenstapel,
was interviewed by Alee Quick of the Southern Illinoisan,
it appears in their free Life & Style magazine.
thesouthern.com/lifestyles/magazine/21-questions-getting-to-know-anne-krippenstapel-executive-director-of-keep-carbondale-beautiful/article_9d781f5b-35de-5a4b-9759-c66cf2b91ea7.html

THANK YOU,

CARBONDALE!!
for meeting Keep Carbondale
Beautiful’s 30-Day Challenge.
We heard from the following folks who reported on their group’s cleanup efforts. Liz, Brian, Sarah, Lee, Mike, Rockette, Trina, Dorcy, Clare, Bobbie, Carrie, Mark, Jerry, Darren, Greg, Richard, Fran, Dan, Beth, Jessica
:

Every little bit helps.

The KCB Challenge
Keep Carbondale Beautiful thanks all those in the Carbondale community who participated in their 30-Day Challenge. Nearly 50 people reported that they had been out and picking up litter, and most said that they are doing it on a regular basis.
Estimates are that hundreds of hours were put in. “But more importantly,” according to Executive Director Anne Krippenstapel, “the community came together. I am heartened by the stewardship of our citizens.” Some people were out every day, especially if walking a dog. Sunny warm days saw more participation, as recorded on Keep Carbondale Beautiful’s Facebook page.
Sponsors of the30-Day Challenge cleanup include Burris Disposal, CIMCO Recycling, and Southern Recycling. KCB also gets critical funding from the City of Carbondale. All participants are eligible to receive a T-shirt or a tote-bag. Contact Anne Krippenstapel for more information: 618-525-3075 or keepcb1326@gmail.com.

Get Involved
If you've ever asked yourself: Where do I recycle in or around Carbondale? How can I clean up my local neighborhood? What can I do to be more environmentally friendly? On this website, you will find information on our programs, ways you can help the local environment, useful links, and much more.

There are a number of ways you can help keep Carbondale beautiful:
Look for upcoming volunteer opportunities on the Calendar of Events
Learn more about student internship opportunities
Become a member
Serve on the board of directors
Check out our Help Wanted list for ideas
No time? Financial support is also involvement! Contribute here

Announcements

We expect by September we'll be able to make the trip to Forrest Keeling Nursery. Please check out the Tree Sale page and think about planting trees in the fall.

Carbondale uses See Click Fix so that citizens can report a concern, or see what issues have been reported and what's being done. You can also download the SeeClickFix app to your phone. Please help raise awareness about this wonderful addition to a responsive and transparent city hall.

Partnerships

We take our mission seriously, but interpret it broadly to include other aspects of community greening and – as Keep America Beautiful puts it – building vibrant communities. So we partner with other groups, such as

Built Environment Action Team to promote walkable and bikeable streets
City of Carbondale to educate the public on recycling
Illinois Native Plant Society, and U of I Extension to create guidelines for property owners wanting to create native habitat
Illinois Master Naturalists to develop Champion Tree Contest
Jackson County Healthy Communities Coalition in their grant
Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts on environmental programming
The Science Center to plan special exhibits
... and more to come, with your support.