KEEP KEY WEST BEAUTIFUL: MAY CLEANUPS SCHEDULED

A yellow garbage can has been designated for cigarette butt recycling in the parking lot behind Key West City Hall. Commissioner Greg Davila demonstrates the dropoff spot that enables the city of Key West to recycle cigarette butts through a company called TerraCycle, which recycles the butts into raw materials used in plastics such as outdoor furniture, plastic shipping pallets, storage containers and other items. CONTRIBUTED

One hour a week makes a huge difference, and volunteers are always welcome every Friday morning, when teams clean up a designated area of the island.

Nine volunteers collected 27.5 pounds of trash, four pounds of recycling, and 1.5 gallons of cigarette butts in one hour. 

It is not just the large items you can see easily when you are walking, but the smaller items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the volunteers that make the biggest difference and keep them out of the ocean. 

Remember, every day is Earth Day, so please do your part to help keep our island clean. 

The ploggers are always looking for volunteers every Friday morning.

All are invited to join the Friday morning cleanups from 8 to 9 a.m. Parking is provided and all volunteers receive a 24-hour bus pass in exchange for their time.

Cleanup schedule for Fridays in May, all take place 8 to 9 a.m

May 6: Eaton & White streets, meet at The Restaurant Store.

May 13: N. Roosevelt at Dredgers Key, meet by Denny’s. 

May 20: Caroline & Margaret streets, meet at the lot across from

Harpoon Harry’s.May 27: Duval and South streets, meet at Duval Pocket Park.