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.
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.
BRIGHT SPOT AWARD!! LABYRINTH PEACE PARK
NATIVE FALL TREE AND SHRUB SALE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
@ Town Square Pavilion
Carbondale, Illinois
Dozens of species to choose from
Sourced from Tabor Wholesale Nursery and Forrest Keeling Nursery
View Tree/Shrub preorder list at keecp.org/beautification/Tree Sale
Deadline for preorders is midnight September 28th.
To Preorder: Send name, address, phone #, e-mail, plus order to keepcb1326@gmail.com
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
@ Town Square Pavilion
Carbondale, Illinois
Dozens of species to choose from
Sourced from Tabor Wholesale Nursery and Forrest Keeling Nursery
View Tree/Shrub preorder list at keecp.org/beautification/Tree Sale
Deadline for preorders is midnight September 28th.
To Preorder: Send name, address, phone #, e-mail, plus order to keepcb1326@gmail.com
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*Here is some quick info on our trees, this is not a complete list nor is it always guaranteed to be in stock at the time of tree sale*
Acer saccharum
Sugar Maple ... a large shade tree with excellent form. Famous for its prized syrup, ... fabulous fall color ... grows in a variety of soil types but prefers a rich, well-drained soil. Height: 60-75 feet.
Asimina triloba
*Pawpaw* is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree is a great plant for attracting all kinds of wildlife. Pawpaw's yellowish fruit is relished by many birds and small mammals. Pawpaw spreads slowly to form small colonies or thickets, providing good cover for a variety of wildlife. Generally considered deer resistant.
Betula nigra
River Birch distinctive bark; good for rain gardens and erosion control -- prefers moist, well-drained soil, but tolerates dry; prefers deep, rich soils, but will grow in clay soils. Grow as single trunk or as a multi-stemmed tree. Height: 40-70 feet.
 Carpinus caroliniana
Carpinus caroliniana*
*American Hornbeam* is a handsome small- to medium-sized tree with multiple stems that forms wide, horizontal canopy. Good fall color. Beautiful thin, blue-gray bark is ornamental. Height 20-40' Carya illinoinensis
Pecan The largest member of the hickory family (with the sweetest nuts!). Prefers rich, moist soils. Tall straight trunk with symmetrical, broadly oval crown. Height: 70-100 feet.
Carya ovata
*Shagbark Hickory* Highly adaptable species for landscape use. The gray to brown bark peels off in thin sections. and golden brown tones. Produces large, edible hickory nuts. A long lived tree. They are considered to produce a lot of 'litter'(bark and nuts) so place accordingly. Height: 60-80 feet. [These trees will come small, but they are hard to find.] Look here, too.
Celtis occidentalis
*Hackberry* is a reliable, fast-growing, all-purpose shade tree. Hackberry's pyramidal shape when young then develops a broad crown with ascending branches. The leaves are medium green. Fall foliage is a soft yellow. Birds and wildlife relish the small, fleshy fall fruit.
Cercis canadensis
Redbud native favorite and harbinger of spring that explodes with rosy pink flowers in April. Native Eastern Redbud does well in sun to dappled shade. Adapts to any average garden soil. Height: 20-25
Chionanthus virginicus
Fringetree. Shimmering, white fringed flowers cover Fringetree in May or June followed by small, round fall fruit on female trees. leaves often turn bright yellow in fall. Grow in part sun to shade as a small tree or shrub. Beautiful as a single specimen or planted in groups.
Cladastris kentukea/lutea
Yellowwood is an excellent, medium-sized specimen tree, with light green compound leaves turning gold in fall. Spectacular panicles of fragrant, creamy-white spring flowers. Yellowwood bark is very smooth and gray. This is an underused, beautiful native tree.
Cornus alternifolia
Pagoda Dogwood Classic white flowers in spring. Spreading, low-branched tree with horizontal habit and burgundy fall foliage. Good alternative to cold-sensitive Flowering Dogwood. Height: 15-25 feet.
Cornus florida
Limited quantities for Fall 2016
Flowering Dogwood Favorite companion to redbuds; understory tree that likes shade, but needs well-drained soil. Provides food and cover for watchable wildlife. Height: 15-30 feet. Fagus grandiflora
American Beech is a large tree, with a dense, oval to round crown and smooth, silvery-gray bark. The leaves are dark green, simple and sparsely-toothed with small teeth. The fruit is a small, sharply-angled nut, borne in pairs in a soft-spined, four-lobed husk.
Gymnocladus dioicus
Kentucky Coffeetree Native shade tree with interesting shape, deeply furrowed bark; adapts to wide variety of sites. Height: 60-80 feet.
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Juglans nigra *
*Black Walnut* Not a great urban tree - it poisons its neighbors and produces litter which stains. BUT if you have enough land, it is disease-resistant and makes beautiful wood.
Liriodendron tulipifera
Tulip Poplar - a stately tree. Pyramidal when young, rounded when mature. Leaves turn golden yellow in fall. Tulip-shaped summer flowers followed by interesting fruit. Height: 70-90 feet.
Magnolia acuminata
Cucumber Tree the largest of the Magnolias, the Cucumber Tree is an excellent shade tree. ... has coarse textured leaves with greenish white fragrant flowers. Height: 50-80 feet.
Nyssa sylvatica
Black Gum rivals anything for fall color with spectrum of glowing shades. Fruit is favored by many birds. This is not a sweetgum tree.
Ostrya virginiana *
*Eastern Hophornbeam* understory tree with a dense pyramidal shape and attractive bladder-like seed pods. Disease- and pest-resistant. Height: 25-40 feet
Pinus echinata
Shortleaf Pine occurs in dry, sandy or rocky upland areas, but tolerates a wide range of soils. Medium-sized, fast-growing with short pyramidal crown that broadens with age. Migrating butterflies use Shortleaf Pine for roosting. Height: 50-60 feet.
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore Thrives on nearly any site; develops a massive trunk with an open wide-spreading crown and has leaves that can grow to nine inches in width. In winter, Sycamore's characteristic large patches of creamy white inner bark are prominent making it a winter landscape standout. Height: 75-100 feet
Quercus alba
White Oak a large, majestic, and long-lived oak that holds year long interest. Our state tree in Illinois. Round-lobed leaves and smooth, medium-sized acorns. Height: 45-50 feet; can be as wide as it is tall.
Quercus bicolor
*Swamp White Oak* is a large tree with broad crown. Leaves turn varied shades in fall from bronze to red.
Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak has the largest acorns and leaves of all the oaks. Slow-growing and long-lived, it has a magnificent form in old age. Brown fall foliage persists all winter. Height: 50-60 feet.
Quercus shumardii
*Shumard Oak* is a huge, bottomland tree considered the southern counterpart to the Northern Red Oak. In fall, it shows good red color and is one of the first of the season to change.
Quercus phellos
Willow Oak has foliage shaped like beefy willow leaves that turn yellow to russet red in fall. Typically found in moist bottomland soils but adapts to a wide range of soil conditions including clays with somewhat poor drainage. Generally tolerant of urban pollution. A 2005 Missouri Botanical Garden Plants of Merit winner. Height 30-40' Quercus texana
*Nuttall Oak* offers richer red fall color, better branching structure, and higher transplant survival than other oaks.
Sassafras albidum
Sassafras In early spring, clusters of small yellow flowers smother the tree. In the summer, fragrant leaves occur in a variety of shapes (even on the same branch). In the fall, Sassafras leaves take on colors ranging from purple to scarlet. BTW - Tea is disrecommended now. Spreads through root sprouts. Height: 30-60 feet.
Taxodium distichum
Bald Cypress Bald Cypress is a deciduous conifer, with medium-fine, needle-like leave that are soft-textured and light green in summer but turn rusty brown in winter before they drop. Great choice for compacted, urban sites where soil oxygen is low. Height: 50-70 ft.; Full sun; does very well in wet sites
Tilia americana
American Basswood (aka Linden) American Basswood (or Linden) is a stately tree with fragrant, yellow, spring flowers. Its high-quality nectar attracts bees and other pollinators. Fall foliage is deep yellow.
Height: 60-75 ft. Full sun |
September Bright Spot
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Updating our Adopt A Spot program
With the changes of the pandemic and various groups in Carbondale coming and going, we are trying to update our Adopt A Spot locations/routes. We are asking still active groups to reach out and let us know that they are still active on their taken routes (with signs) and groups that are active (without signs) need to contact KCB. We will be taking down old signs and updating and opening up new various spots to be claimed around town! We want to encourage and acknowledge our hardworking volunteers!
A few shots from our Invasive Species Neighborhood Walk
Invasive Species Neighborhood Walk
KCB is in partnership with FRST, Forest Restoration Strike Team, to combat invasive plant species in town.
We came up with a plan to put out a call to homeowners to send in some pics of the invasive plants taking over and we would select 5 homes (keep it relatively small/not overwhelm ourselves with work) and go out together and treat them.
May is invasive species awareness month, as declared by Pat Quinn.
The idea is to be both a beautification project as well as educational.
This was planned for May 2 (a Sunday) and a rain date for May 15th.
"Invasive Species Neighborhood Walk” is to provide the public with beautification, help out native plants regain their territory and education to interested people who wish to take stewardship of their yards!
Contact us with pictures at keepcb1326@gmail.com
We came up with a plan to put out a call to homeowners to send in some pics of the invasive plants taking over and we would select 5 homes (keep it relatively small/not overwhelm ourselves with work) and go out together and treat them.
May is invasive species awareness month, as declared by Pat Quinn.
The idea is to be both a beautification project as well as educational.
This was planned for May 2 (a Sunday) and a rain date for May 15th.
"Invasive Species Neighborhood Walk” is to provide the public with beautification, help out native plants regain their territory and education to interested people who wish to take stewardship of their yards!
Contact us with pictures at keepcb1326@gmail.com
SIU SCUBA Team Helps to Keep Carbondale Beautiful
SIU's SCUBA Team organized their own clean-up the other day.
They were able to fill 5 bags while focusing mainly on the water ways.
Way To Go!!!
They were able to fill 5 bags while focusing mainly on the water ways.
Way To Go!!!
Successful Clean-Up Events
Grab N Go Litter Clean Up Kits
We have Litter Clean-Up Kits available! Read more about them below:
Instructions; Grab N Go Litter Pick up Kits are available at the screened in porch of Hickory Lodge, 1115 W. Sycamore.
Please do not enter the main building at this time.
Each Kit Contains: Bags/gloves/City Route highlighting high trash areas & parking, as well as the City number to collect orange bags (618.457.3275)
Kits are Labeled by size as Small, Medium or Large
KCB can also provide long handled litter grabbers, we ask volunteers to return them when done with litter clean ups.
Must be requested. Grabbers are labeled with our name and address.
*the hardcore litter-picker-upper may want their own grabber, they are generally available for sale at local hardware stores*
Suggested to follow highlighted route on map.
Always use caution in unknown areas.
Smaller single use shopping bags are included so volunteers can spread out and collect and return to orange bags to dump litter into.
A few extra pairs of gloves are added in case gloves rip while working.
When volunteers are finished please call, 618.457.3275, leave a voice mail where the location of orange bags are (and only within city limits)
Please email/call/text KCB as to where volunteers collected litter/how many bags/hours of volunteerism, we love to know where you went!
Also, tell us about any interesting finds (Money? Winning lottery ticket? Creepy dolls? See any unusual wildlife?)
Take pictures/selfies and post it to our Instagram/FB page, we can also add it to our website!
Large automotive parts/medical waste/appliances, DO NOT HANDLE!
Instead, report them to Keep Carbondale Beautiful or the city.
Instructions; Grab N Go Litter Pick up Kits are available at the screened in porch of Hickory Lodge, 1115 W. Sycamore.
Please do not enter the main building at this time.
Each Kit Contains: Bags/gloves/City Route highlighting high trash areas & parking, as well as the City number to collect orange bags (618.457.3275)
Kits are Labeled by size as Small, Medium or Large
- Small kits: 1-2 volunteers, 2 orange bags, smaller shopping bags, 3 pair gloves
- Medium kits: 3-5 volunteers, 4 orange bags, smaller shopping bags, 7 pair gloves
- Large kits: 6-10 volunteers, 6 orange bags, smaller shopping bags, 12 pair gloves
KCB can also provide long handled litter grabbers, we ask volunteers to return them when done with litter clean ups.
Must be requested. Grabbers are labeled with our name and address.
*the hardcore litter-picker-upper may want their own grabber, they are generally available for sale at local hardware stores*
Suggested to follow highlighted route on map.
Always use caution in unknown areas.
Smaller single use shopping bags are included so volunteers can spread out and collect and return to orange bags to dump litter into.
A few extra pairs of gloves are added in case gloves rip while working.
When volunteers are finished please call, 618.457.3275, leave a voice mail where the location of orange bags are (and only within city limits)
Please email/call/text KCB as to where volunteers collected litter/how many bags/hours of volunteerism, we love to know where you went!
Also, tell us about any interesting finds (Money? Winning lottery ticket? Creepy dolls? See any unusual wildlife?)
Take pictures/selfies and post it to our Instagram/FB page, we can also add it to our website!
Large automotive parts/medical waste/appliances, DO NOT HANDLE!
Instead, report them to Keep Carbondale Beautiful or the city.
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?
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.
- 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 (skip 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.
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.
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.