Keep Columbus Beautiful seeks help from community to clean up trash

A city-wide initiative is calling on Columbus residents to help pick up trash from their community. 

February 24, 2026Updated: February 25, 2026
By Sara McKenna

COLUMBUS, Neb.— A city-wide initiative is calling on Columbus residents to help pick up trash from their community. 

Keep America Beautiful is working on their goal to collect 25 billion pieces of trash before Americans 250th birthday in July. 

The Columbus branch and the City of Columbus are joining in this mission by asking residents to pledge to pick up 250 pieces each. 

Executive Director Venessa Oceguera says the program is purely through the honor system.

“There's no measurement tool out there that you have to, like log in and say, oh, I picked up 250 pieces of litter. Here's my bag,” Oceguera said. “It's going to be, you know, you can go online, there will be a QR code on this banner that we're going to have and you scan it, you take the pledge that states you are going to pick up the 250 pieces of litter in your community.”

That banner will be in the city building downtown and once residents complete the challenge they can write their names to show their contribution to the community. 

Keep Columbus Beautiful says they have all the needed supplies for anyone wanting to go out and pick up trash, including bags and grabbers. 

The Greatest American Cleanup is happening until July 4th. 

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