20 Apr 2015 Rubbish Run scheduled in Morrilton

In honor of Earth Day, Green Bay Packaging, the City of Morrilton and the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce Keep Morrilton Clean Committee are working together with local businesses to host a Rubbish Run to clean up Morrilton on Saturday, April 25, in downtown.

Sign-in and day-of registration begins at 7 a.m. Welcoming remarks, a proclamation reading and planting of trees along Division Street will take place at 8 a.m. The Rubbish Run and other beautification activities will kick off at 8:15 a.m. Centennial Bank is providing lunch for everyone who participates beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The event will kick off Morrilton’s participation in the Great Arkansas Cleanup, a statewide initiative to keep Arkansas beautiful. This is not your typical fun run – it’s better!  This unique opportunity lets participants run or walk a specified distance out, then you clean that mileage of roadway on their way back. It’s a "mile for mile" effort in beautifying Morrilton and assisting with the Earth Day celebration.  

All ages are welcome, but children under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult to participate in the day’s activities. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to get involved in this fun way to show some love to the city. The event will serve as a great learning tool for kids in caring for their town and the environment.

Headquarters for the day will be at the corner of Commerce and Division streets in Downtown Morrilton across from US Bank. Participants should sign up at http://www.rubbishrun2.eventbrite.com/ in advance if possible. T-shirts will be provided while supplies last to those who pre-register and on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the Rubbish Run.

Event organizers will have various fun-run lengths mapped out, and they’ll supply volunteers with water, snacks, gloves, trash bags and recycle bags. Participants choose a distance ranging from one to four miles and are given a route upon checking in. No one will go at it alone, though, because rubbish runners will be teamed up with other clean-community lovers. Together, groups will scour the roadside and road for rubbish and collect it in bags heading for the landfill and recycling bin. Participants will leave their filled bags at designated points along their routes.  Citizens should be aware that City employees will collect the bags of trash on Monday, April 27.

Green Bay Packaging is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and is working to help beautify Morrilton. GBP is providing many of the supplies for the day and is sponsoring children’s activities for kids ages 12 and younger who finish their routes early. Kids can stop by and decorate a terra cotta pot and plant a flower to take home, color Earth Day coloring pages and get their faces painted.

When all rubbish runners have completed their routes, prizes in several fun categories will be awarded. Categories will be announced prior to the start of the Rubbish Run. All participants will receive a one-of-a-kind reclaimed finisher’s medal and will have a chance at door prizes.

Event coordinators would like to thank the many businesses, churches and individuals who have showed their support of this event. With everyone’s help, we can make Morrilton’s first Rubbish Run a great one!

To sign up for the Rubbish Run, visit rubbishrun2.eventbrite.com. For more information and for last-minute updates, join the Facebook event “Rubbish Run – Morrilton.”