Latest / Inside West Palm Beach / Preserving Paradise: Keeping WPB Beautiful!

Transcript

Preserving Paradise: Keeping WPB Beautiful! · Inside West Palm Beach

• 14:03:45
  Welcome to Inside West Palm Beach. I'm
• 14:03:48
  Jerry Marcello. Our city is a place of
• 14:03:50
  tropical beauty. It is the reason why
• 14:03:52
  many of us call this place home, but
• 14:03:55
  beauty can be very fragile. Careless
• 14:03:58
  hands can cover the landscape with trash
• 14:04:00
  and refuse and someone has to pick it up.
• 14:04:04
  The city knows this and today we're
• 14:04:06
  going to learn about a local team that
• 14:04:08
  works to keep West Palm Beach beautiful
• 14:04:10
  and you can be a part of
• 14:04:12
  the answer. That's next.
• 14:04:24
  And joining us today is Naila
• 14:04:25
  Alkoseid-Martos, Coordinator for the City
• 14:04:28
  City's Keep West Palm Beach Beautiful
• 14:04:31
  campaign. I always want to say Keep
• 14:04:33
  America Beautiful, but it's Keep West
• 14:04:35
  Palm Beach Beautiful
• 14:04:36
  campaign. Naila, welcome.
• 14:04:38
  Thank you for having me.
• 14:04:40
  Okay, many of us know about the Keep
• 14:04:42
  America Beautiful campaign. Is what we're
• 14:04:45
  working with here in West
• 14:04:46
  Palm Beach an offshoot of that?
• 14:04:48
  Yes, for sure. It's definitely directly
• 14:04:49
  correlated. We are an affiliate of Keep
• 14:04:53
  America Beautiful and to go back a bit,
• 14:04:56
  for those who know of Keep America
• 14:04:58
  Beautiful, it's been around since the
• 14:05:00
  1950s. And it's been addressing issues
• 14:05:03
  related to combating litter, improvements
• 14:05:07
  to recycling and a general
• 14:05:09
  limit to waste that ends up in the
• 14:05:11
  landfill. And also through that...
• 14:05:12
  litter, and also push forward
• 14:05:13
  beautification efforts.
• 14:05:15
  Well, I see. I remember... I'm going to
• 14:05:18
  give away my age here. I remember being a
• 14:05:20
  kid in the 1970s watching TV, and there
• 14:05:23
  was that classic commercial where you had
• 14:05:26
  the Indian watching the trash blowing
• 14:05:29
  across and a tiny drop of
• 14:05:31
  tear coming down to space.
• 14:05:33
  And it was so powerful that we talked
• 14:05:35
  about it always, and it really started us
• 14:05:38
  as little kids thinking about, "Hey, we
• 14:05:40
  know we got to pick this stuff up."
• 14:05:42
  But you're saying it goes
• 14:05:44
  all the way back to the 1950s.
• 14:05:46
  Yeah. And since then, its affiliate
• 14:05:48
  network has grown tremendously. At the
• 14:05:51
  moment, there are about 700 affiliates.
• 14:05:55
  And those affiliates are state
• 14:05:57
  affiliates, county affiliates, city
• 14:06:00
  affiliates, and now even collegiate
• 14:06:02
  affiliates, where we have
• 14:06:03
  that focus on the college campus.
• 14:06:06
  focus on the college campus.
• 14:06:06
  Okay. So, when did West Palm Beach begin
• 14:06:09
  its affiliate program?
• 14:06:11
  Yeah. So, Keep West Palm Beach started
• 14:06:13
  its affiliate program in 2023, and it
• 14:06:16
  stemmed from Mayor Keith James'
• 14:06:19
  stemmed from Mayor Keith James'
• 14:06:19
  initiative, the Clean Streets Task Force,
• 14:06:19
  initiative, the Clean Streets Task Force,
• 14:06:22
  which was launched in 2021.
• 14:06:22
  which was launched in 2021.
• 14:06:25
  And that task force, for those who are
• 14:06:25
  And that task force, for those who are
• 14:06:27
  unaware, works to address abandoned
• 14:06:29
  vehicles, litter, and illegal dumping
• 14:06:33
  within the city of West Palm Beach.
• 14:06:34
  within the city of West Palm Beach.
• 14:06:35
  You know, I remember clearly when that
• 14:06:35
  You know, I remember clearly when that
• 14:06:37
  program was underway and in full swing,
• 14:06:40
  there was a real problem with people just
• 14:06:42
  dumping trash, construction materials.
• 14:06:46
  People were driving in from other
• 14:06:48
  townships and just dumping
• 14:06:49
  it on West Palm Beach streets.
• 14:06:51
  Palm Beach streets. And that trouble,
• 14:06:52
  And that trouble, that problem, was
• 14:06:54
  really the ignition point for these
• 14:06:56
  programs to focus on keeping West Palm
• 14:07:00
  Beach as beautiful as possible.
• 14:07:01
  as beautiful as possible.
• 14:07:02
  Yes, for sure. And that is made possible
• 14:07:04
  through that interdepartmental
• 14:07:06
  collaboration, because most of these
• 14:07:08
  issues that we face with the
• 14:07:10
  task force are multifaceted.
• 14:07:12
  So, we do need people from different
• 14:07:13
  areas with different expertise to come
• 14:07:16
  together and address them effectively.
• 14:07:18
  together and address them effectively.
• 14:07:18
  Now, jumping back to Clean Streets, does
• 14:07:20
  Clean Streets still exist or has it been
• 14:07:22
  folded into your program?
• 14:07:24
  It still exists and it is a part of our
• 14:07:24
  It still exists, and it is a part of our
• 14:07:26
  program. I would say it is at the center
• 14:07:27
  of our program because
• 14:07:28
  it helps move forward.
• 14:07:30
  Not only keep America beautiful's
• 14:07:32
  mission, but our initiatives
• 14:07:34
  here at the city level as well.
• 14:07:36
  Gotcha. And we were just touching on
• 14:07:37
  goals. Tell us specifically, what are the
• 14:07:41
  goals that keep West
• 14:07:42
  Palm Beach beautiful?
• 14:07:43
  beautiful? Hope they hope
• 14:07:44
  I hope they hope you're up to accomplish.
• 14:07:46
  Yeah, so aside from moving forward with
• 14:07:46
  Yeah, so aside from moving forward with
• 14:07:48
  the Clean Streets task force and
• 14:07:50
  continuing to tackle those issues,
• 14:07:52
  continuing to tackle those issues, our
• 14:07:52
  our aim is really to serve as a support
• 14:07:55
  system for residents, community
• 14:07:58
  organizations, neighborhood associations,
• 14:08:01
  or whoever it may be,
• 14:08:02
  whatever group it may be.
• 14:08:04
  When it comes to cleanups, we're here to
• 14:08:06
  provide supplies and pick up through our
• 14:08:11
  solid waste division over at Public
• 14:08:13
  Works, because this program is housed
• 14:08:15
  under that department.
• 14:08:16
  housed under that department.
• 14:08:17
  You hit on something that I think is
• 14:08:19
  really important, which is you are there
• 14:08:22
  to do many different things, but one of
• 14:08:25
  your primary duties is to facilitate
• 14:08:27
  folks in the community getting involved
• 14:08:30
  through, you use the term, cleanups.
• 14:08:32
  Tell us exactly what a cleanup is and how
• 14:08:32
  Tell us exactly what a cleanup is and how
• 14:08:34
  people in the community can get involved
• 14:08:36
  in something like that.
• 14:08:37
  in something like that.
• 14:08:37
  Yeah, a cleanup is any initiative to go
• 14:08:39
  out in the community and
• 14:08:41
  pick up litter from the ground.
• 14:08:42
  from the ground. And we really urge
• 14:08:43
  And we really urge community members to
• 14:08:46
  band together to clean their own
• 14:08:49
  neighborhoods, because who else knows
• 14:08:51
  their neighborhood more than the people
• 14:08:53
  living in it, right?
• 14:08:55
  Though they may not have the materials to
• 14:08:56
  do so, and that's where we come in to
• 14:08:59
  serve as that support system to help them
• 14:09:02
  move along and take the action that
• 14:09:04
  they're looking to take.
• 14:09:05
  they're looking to take.
• 14:09:05
  I'm sure it becomes very, very effective
• 14:09:07
  when you say, "Look, you're going to be
• 14:09:09
  cleaning up your neighborhood, your
• 14:09:12
  streets, the streets where your kids
• 14:09:14
  play, the places where you
• 14:09:17
  walk, where you walk your dog."
• 14:09:18
  These are the things that you're going to
• 14:09:19
  be focusing on. I'm sure that that really
• 14:09:21
  does stir people to get involved.
• 14:09:23
  For sure. And if you see your neighbor
• 14:09:24
  For sure. And if you see your neighbor
• 14:09:26
  participating in initiatives like that,
• 14:09:28
  you're more likely to get involved too,
• 14:09:29
  you know, and have that even further
• 14:09:31
  sense of community
• 14:09:32
  within your neighborhood.
• 14:09:33
  within your neighborhood.
• 14:09:34
  Part of what you do also has a very
• 14:09:34
  Part of what you do also has a very
• 14:09:36
  strong educational element. Tell us a
• 14:09:38
  little bit about that.
• 14:09:39
  Yeah. So as I mentioned, we became an
• 14:09:39
  Yeah, so as I mentioned, we became an
• 14:09:41
  affiliate in 2023. So we
• 14:09:43
  are a fairly new affiliate.
• 14:09:44
  affiliate. But as we grow, we look to
• 14:09:45
  But as we grow, we look to develop
• 14:09:47
  different parts of the program. And one
• 14:09:49
  of the things we're looking to do now is
• 14:09:50
  to develop that educational side.
• 14:09:52
  And education is important for all ages.
• 14:09:53
  And education is important for all ages.
• 14:09:56
  As an adult, it's good to have refreshers
• 14:09:56
  As an adult, it's good to have refreshers
• 14:09:59
  or perhaps learn things that you weren't
• 14:10:00
  aware of previously.
• 14:10:01
  aware of previously.
• 14:10:01
  For example, if you spent your life
• 14:10:03
  throwing plastic bags in the blue
• 14:10:05
  recycling bin and you weren't aware of
• 14:10:07
  the impact of that at the recycling
• 14:10:09
  facility, you wouldn't be able to know
• 14:10:13
  what to do instead if
• 14:10:14
  someone is there to educate you.
• 14:10:16
  Sure. So it is important at that level
• 14:10:17
  So it is important at that level for
• 14:10:19
  adults. However, it is also vital to
• 14:10:21
  target our younger generations when we're
• 14:10:24
  educating them about issues like these.
• 14:10:26
  educating them about issues like these.
• 14:10:26
  If we're able to plant the seeds early
• 14:10:28
  on, we'll see the positive impact of that
• 14:10:31
  for the years to come.
• 14:10:33
  for the years to come.
• 14:10:33
  Now, what about items that are you guys
• 14:10:33
  Now, what about items that are you guys
• 14:10:36
  involved with recycling or educating
• 14:10:38
  people on what can be
• 14:10:39
  recycled and what cannot?
• 14:10:41
  There are many recycling educational
• 14:10:43
  campaigns. A lot of the materials that we
• 14:10:45
  get stem from Keep
• 14:10:47
  America Beautiful, for example.
• 14:10:48
  example. But we're also in the process of
• 14:10:49
  But we're also in the process of creating
• 14:10:51
  our materials that are accustomed to the
• 14:10:54
  city of West Palm Beach.
• 14:10:55
  city of West Palm Beach.
• 14:10:56
  Sure. So your focus, again, as part of
• 14:11:00
  this program, is tailoring the message to
• 14:11:03
  folks, residents who live here.
• 14:11:05
  live here. Okay, that's great.
• 14:11:05
  OK, that's great. You know, we live in a
• 14:11:09
  community that is one of its great
• 14:11:12
  qualities, is that it is one of the most
• 14:11:15
  beautiful spots in the entire country.
• 14:11:17
  spots in the entire country.
• 14:11:18
  People sometimes forget that that is a
• 14:11:21
  very delicate, very, you know, delicate
• 14:11:25
  thing that could be
• 14:11:26
  destroyed very easily.
• 14:11:27
  You know, are we really in danger of West
• 14:11:28
  You know, are we really in danger of West
• 14:11:32
  Palm Beach not being beautiful anymore,
• 14:11:34
  especially with all the growth and all
• 14:11:36
  the changes and the people
• 14:11:37
  moving into our community?
• 14:11:38
  moving into our community?
• 14:11:39
  Yeah, I would say we definitely are, but
• 14:11:41
  not only the city of West Palm Beach, any
• 14:11:43
  city or town, regardless of
• 14:11:45
  characteristics like high
• 14:11:47
  tourism or manufacturing,
• 14:11:50
  Because at the end of the day, what
• 14:11:50
  because at the end of the day, what
• 14:11:51
  matters more are the daily habits of the
• 14:11:54
  residents in those areas.
• 14:11:55
  residents in those areas. You can have a
• 14:11:56
  You can have a smaller city or town, but
• 14:11:59
  perhaps those individuals aren't as
• 14:12:00
  educated on these issues and don't have
• 14:12:02
  those positive habits.
• 14:12:04
  those positive habits.
• 14:12:04
  And that's going to reflect in that area
• 14:12:06
  where you can have a city with a larger
• 14:12:08
  population that's growing who are aware
• 14:12:10
  of these issues and their collective
• 14:12:12
  action to prevent ways from answering the
• 14:12:16
  environment is also going to reflect
• 14:12:17
  positively in that area.
• 14:12:19
  So things that you're going to be
• 14:12:20
  So things that you're going to be
• 14:12:22
  constantly talking about and educating
• 14:12:24
  people about is, you know, don't dump
• 14:12:28
  motor oil on the ground.
• 14:12:30
  motor oil on the ground.
• 14:12:30
  Don't, you know, dispose of car batteries
• 14:12:34
  or other things on the street because
• 14:12:36
  those things just would sit there and it
• 14:12:38
  would end up poisoning the environment.
• 14:12:40
  So these are things that you'll be
• 14:12:41
  So these are things that you'll be
• 14:12:42
  focusing on, you know, and you talk about
• 14:12:45
  daily habits that it's not just a part of
• 14:12:49
  the answer is the big events
• 14:12:50
  where you go clean things up.
• 14:12:52
  clean things up and as an important
• 14:12:52
  And there's an important moment for
• 14:12:54
  communities to come together,
• 14:12:55
  for people to come together.
• 14:12:56
  But what daily habits, little things that
• 14:12:58
  people can do to help this be something
• 14:13:01
  that happens every day?
• 14:13:02
  Yeah. So some of those daily habits,
• 14:13:03
  Yeah, so some of those daily habits,
• 14:13:04
  because that is, I think, where you can
• 14:13:06
  make the greatest impact in those
• 14:13:08
  everyday changes and
• 14:13:09
  they can be small steps.
• 14:13:11
  You can start small, like making sure
• 14:13:13
  that you hold on to those little pieces
• 14:13:14
  of garbage rather than littering them.
• 14:13:16
  rather than littering them.
• 14:13:16
  Maybe from there you move on to use
• 14:13:18
  reusable products rather
• 14:13:20
  than single use products.
• 14:13:22
  products. And then perhaps from there you
• 14:13:22
  And then perhaps from there you can go on
• 14:13:24
  to learn more about
• 14:13:24
  recycling and recycling at home.
• 14:13:26
  So as long as you are making progress,
• 14:13:27
  So as long as you are making progress,
• 14:13:29
  whether those are small or big steps, you
• 14:13:32
  are doing your part to have a
• 14:13:34
  positive impact on the city.
• 14:13:35
  Very nice. So these small steps can be
• 14:13:38
  something that becomes part of the habit
• 14:13:40
  that we can do as adults, as parents,
• 14:13:42
  that we can do as adults, as parents,
• 14:13:43
  teaching our children,
• 14:13:43
  teaching our children, the children to
• 14:13:44
  to think the same way and to take these
• 14:13:46
  same behaviors to preserve the
• 14:13:49
  cleanliness and preserve our environment.
• 14:13:51
  So we talked about the little things. Now
• 14:13:51
  So we talked about the little things.
• 14:13:53
  So we talked about the little things. Now
• 14:13:53
  Now, let's talk a little bit more about
• 14:13:55
  some of the big things.
• 14:13:56
  of the big things. We've talked a little
• 14:13:56
  We've talked a little bit about events
• 14:13:58
  where people can gather
• 14:13:59
  together and start cleaning up.
• 14:14:01
  Say I've got an organization, a
• 14:14:01
  Say I've got an organization, a
• 14:14:03
  neighborhood organization.
• 14:14:04
  How do I organize a cleanup?
• 14:14:07
  Yeah, so you can start if you are a group
• 14:14:09
  within the West Palm.
• 14:14:11
  What?
• 14:14:12
  If you are a group within the city of
• 14:14:13
  If you are a group within the city of
• 14:14:15
  West Palm Beach and you are familiar with
• 14:14:18
  your area and you know what
• 14:14:19
  area that you want to tackle,
• 14:14:20
  want to tackle, from there it's just a
• 14:14:21
  from there it's just a matter of ironing
• 14:14:23
  out logistic details,
• 14:14:25
  time, scope of the cleanup.
• 14:14:25
  time, scope of the cleanup.
• 14:14:27
  And from there we can work with that
• 14:14:27
  And from there we can work with that
• 14:14:29
  organization to supply those buckets,
• 14:14:32
  pickers, trash bags,
• 14:14:34
  pickers, trash bags and also coordinate
• 14:14:34
  and also coordinate with our solid waste
• 14:14:37
  division for our drivers to come out and
• 14:14:40
  pick up the collected litter.
• 14:14:42
  pick up the collected litter.
• 14:14:42
  Oh, that's important. Yeah, I mean, so if
• 14:14:46
  you have an organization, you want to do
• 14:14:47
  something like this,
• 14:14:48
  a good first step would be to reach out
• 14:14:49
  to you, to your office.
• 14:14:51
  Start getting some information and as you
• 14:14:52
  Start getting some information.
• 14:14:53
  Start getting some information and as you
• 14:14:54
  And as you mentioned, there are some
• 14:14:55
  supplies that might become
• 14:14:57
  available for collecting trash.
• 14:15:00
  for collecting trash.
• 14:15:02
  I would assume it could be 10 or 20, 30
• 14:15:04
  bags of trash or more. Wouldn't you say?
• 14:15:07
  Yeah, it would totally depend on each
• 14:15:09
  area. So that's why it is important and
• 14:15:11
  it comes in handy to have our solid waste
• 14:15:13
  division and come clean that up.
• 14:15:15
  Yeah, that's good planning. That's good
• 14:15:17
  planning. So let's start with the idea
• 14:15:20
  that these folks need to
• 14:15:21
  reach out to you or to learn more.
• 14:15:23
  or to learn more. What's the best way for
• 14:15:24
  What's the best way for people to get in
• 14:15:25
  contact with you? Should we start by
• 14:15:27
  looking at the website?
• 14:15:28
  we start by looking at the website?
• 14:15:29
  Yeah, for sure. You can look at the
• 14:15:30
  website and our website is www.ohmygod.
• 14:15:35
  Yeah, I'll go ahead and ask that question
• 14:15:35
  Yeah, I'll go ahead and ask that question
• 14:15:37
  again. So part of getting people involved
• 14:15:43
  would be to get in contact with you and
• 14:15:45
  become educated about all the
• 14:15:47
  opportunities they have in front of them.
• 14:15:48
  And it starts, I guess, a good way to
• 14:15:50
  start with the website. Now, how do they
• 14:15:52
  reach you on the website?
• 14:15:53
  Yeah, so our website is
• 14:15:53
  Yeah, so our website is
• 14:15:54
  www.slashbeautiful. Oh my god, WPB.
• 14:15:59
  www.slashbeautiful.com. Oh my god, WPB.
• 14:15:59
  Okay, I'll do it again. No, really good.
• 14:16:04
  good. I'm not the one blowing it.
• 14:16:04
  I'm not the one blowing it. I'm playing.
• 14:16:07
  First time, first time.
• 14:16:08
  First time, first time.
• 14:16:09
  You're doing great. Okay, so we're
• 14:16:12
  rewinding it so I will start
• 14:16:13
  to jump in again and say...
• 14:16:15
  That's really interesting. And it all
• 14:16:19
  That's really interesting and it all
• 14:16:21
  starts with folks reaching out
• 14:16:23
  to you and getting in contact.
• 14:16:26
  getting in contact. Now, what is the best
• 14:16:26
  Now, what is the best way for people to
• 14:16:28
  become informed about your program and to
• 14:16:31
  start learning all the
• 14:16:32
  things that are available to them?
• 14:16:34
  Yes, they can start by visiting our
• 14:16:34
  Yes, we can start by visiting our
• 14:16:35
  website. Our website is
• 14:16:36
  www.wpb.org slash beautiful.
• 14:16:39
  beautiful. And there they can learn more
• 14:16:40
  And there they can learn
• 14:16:40
  more about our affiliate.
• 14:16:42
  They can also take a look at Keep America
• 14:16:43
  They can also take a look at Keep America
• 14:16:46
  Beautiful's website and Keep Florida
• 14:16:48
  Beautiful to see how
• 14:16:50
  those changes in scope.
• 14:16:51
  scope. Because we have Keep Florida
• 14:16:51
  Because we have Keep Florida Beautiful at
• 14:16:54
  the state level. And for those who
• 14:16:55
  aren't, we also have Keep
• 14:16:57
  Palm Beach County Beautiful.
• 14:16:58
  Wow, a lot of programs. Okay, you got to
• 14:17:01
  help me here. I live in West Palm Beach.
• 14:17:04
  help me here. I live in West Palm Beach.
• 14:17:04
  Do I contact Keep West
• 14:17:06
  Palm Beach Beautiful?
• 14:17:06
  Beautiful? Do I contact Keep Florida
• 14:17:07
  Do I contact Keep Florida Beautiful? What
• 14:17:09
  is the difference between those programs?
• 14:17:11
  Yeah, so the difference between those
• 14:17:11
  Yeah, so the difference between those
• 14:17:13
  programs is scope. So if there's
• 14:17:16
  something that is statewide, that is
• 14:17:17
  something that somebody can
• 14:17:18
  go to Keep Florida Beautiful.
• 14:17:20
  Florida Beautiful. Now, if there's
• 14:17:21
  Now, if there's something that is outside
• 14:17:23
  of the city of West Palm Beach but still
• 14:17:25
  within the county, then that would be
• 14:17:27
  Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful.
• 14:17:28
  Beach County Beautiful. Anything else in
• 14:17:29
  Anything else in the city
• 14:17:30
  would be here at our program.
• 14:17:32
  Okay, so if I'm doing something that is
• 14:17:32
  Okay, so if I'm doing something that is
• 14:17:34
  going to be from Boca Raton to Jupiter
• 14:17:37
  and from Palm Beach all the way out to
• 14:17:40
  Belglade, I would be doing sort of the
• 14:17:42
  county level and I would
• 14:17:44
  reach out to the county folks.
• 14:17:45
  the county folks. Now, if I'm doing
• 14:17:45
  Now, if I'm doing something here right in
• 14:17:47
  West Palm in my neighborhood, it would
• 14:17:49
  probably make sense for
• 14:17:50
  me to reach out to you.
• 14:17:51
  And that would be WPB.org front slash
• 14:17:52
  And that would be www.wpb.org front slash
• 14:17:55
  beautiful. Okay, we'll put
• 14:17:57
  that on the screen as well.
• 14:17:58
  screen as well. So okay, so really cool.
• 14:17:59
  So, okay, so really cool. I had no idea
• 14:18:02
  that there were so many different levels
• 14:18:04
  and it actually sort of makes me inspired
• 14:18:07
  to think about what could
• 14:18:08
  you do on a state level?
• 14:18:09
  could you do on a state level.
• 14:18:11
  No, for sure. And that's to show how far
• 14:18:12
  your reach can go because there's
• 14:18:14
  affiliates across the country.
• 14:18:16
  Wow, it's really neat. So, but that's the
• 14:18:19
  starting point and they
• 14:18:19
  can get in touch with you.
• 14:18:20
  touch with you. And we want to do
• 14:18:21
  And we want to do something on a weekend
• 14:18:23
  sometime in the summertime. You'll help
• 14:18:25
  them organize as far as well. Here are
• 14:18:28
  the resources that are available.
• 14:18:29
  resources that are available.
• 14:18:30
  It's up to them, obviously, to get people
• 14:18:32
  involved. But then you could probably
• 14:18:34
  help them get a contact so that the
• 14:18:36
  material that is collected is properly
• 14:18:38
  picked up and disposed of.
• 14:18:40
  Yeah, and also we can help get the word
• 14:18:41
  out too if they're in need
• 14:18:42
  of additional volunteers.
• 14:18:44
  volunteers. And from that, at the end of
• 14:18:44
  And from that, at the end of that
• 14:18:46
  cleanup, we also take some numbers like
• 14:18:48
  number of volunteers,
• 14:18:49
  like number of volunteers, amount of
• 14:18:50
  amount of litter collected.
• 14:18:52
  litter collected. So we're able to keep
• 14:18:52
  So, we're able to keep track of the
• 14:18:53
  impact they're making on the city.
• 14:18:56
  Now, there's a I'm aware of a very large
• 14:18:58
  event, the Great American
• 14:19:00
  Cleanup. Tell us about that.
• 14:19:02
  Yeah. So currently, we are actually in
• 14:19:02
  Yeah, so currently we are actually in
• 14:19:05
  that season of the Greatest American
• 14:19:06
  Cleanup. And that takes place from the
• 14:19:09
  beginning of March up
• 14:19:11
  until the end of May.
• 14:19:12
  until the end of May.
• 14:19:13
  Oh, okay. So, we're in it.
• 14:19:14
  Yeah, we are currently in it. And the aim
• 14:19:14
  Yeah, we are currently in it. And the aim
• 14:19:16
  of that initiative, and that comes from
• 14:19:18
  Keep America Beautiful, the aim there is
• 14:19:20
  to prepare America for its 250th
• 14:19:23
  celebration on July 4th.
• 14:19:26
  So, any initiative in this timeframe will
• 14:19:28
  help push that forward.
• 14:19:30
  Neat. And so in just in case there are
• 14:19:30
  Neat. And so, just in case there are
• 14:19:32
  folks who tune in or catch this
• 14:19:34
  particular episode after that window,
• 14:19:36
  this is something
• 14:19:37
  that happens every year.
• 14:19:38
  that happens every year.
• 14:19:38
  Yeah, obviously the 251st next year. But
• 14:19:43
  we would be, this information is
• 14:19:45
  something people can listen
• 14:19:46
  to and not be behind the game.
• 14:19:48
  They can be planning for the
• 14:19:49
  next year that comes along.
• 14:19:50
  Exactly. And if they have any cleanup
• 14:19:50
  Exactly. And if they have any cleanup
• 14:19:52
  initiatives outside of this window, we're
• 14:19:54
  also here to support that.
• 14:19:55
  Cleanup efforts take
• 14:19:57
  place throughout the year.
• 14:19:58
  place throughout the year.
• 14:19:59
  Gotcha. Okay, so I know we've probably
• 14:20:02
  sparked a lot of interest. There's going
• 14:20:03
  to be people reaching out.
• 14:20:04
  to be people reaching out. Let's go over
• 14:20:04
  Let's go over the ways people can learn
• 14:20:06
  and how they can contact you.
• 14:20:08
  can contact your website,
• 14:20:08
  Website, wpb.org front
• 14:20:11
  slash beautiful. Email?
• 14:20:14
  Email. Yes, that would be perfect.
• 14:20:15
  Yes, that would be perfect, actually.
• 14:20:16
  They can contact us via email. And our
• 14:20:18
  email is kwpbb at wpb.org.
• 14:20:24
  And I'll put that on the screen because
• 14:20:25
  there's a lot of bees in there and stuff.
• 14:20:27
  Yes.
• 14:20:27
  Yes. Get that taken care of. If you had
• 14:20:28
  Get that taken care of.
• 14:20:29
  Yes. Get that taken care of. If you had
• 14:20:30
  If you had one message to share with the
• 14:20:33
  folks who live here in West Palm Beach
• 14:20:34
  right here and right now,
• 14:20:36
  About your program and what actions they
• 14:20:37
  about your program and what actions they
• 14:20:39
  can be taking right now to preserve our
• 14:20:41
  beauty and our
• 14:20:42
  environment, what would it be?
• 14:20:44
  environment. What would it be?
• 14:20:44
  I would say don't be afraid to go out and
• 14:20:47
  gather your community members.
• 14:20:48
  gather your community members. If you
• 14:20:49
  If you want to take action, I'm sure
• 14:20:50
  there's somebody else in your community
• 14:20:52
  who has that same mindset as you.
• 14:20:54
  that same mindset as you so band
• 14:20:54
  So band together. We're here
• 14:20:56
  to support that initiative.
• 14:20:58
  And also when it comes to changing your
• 14:20:58
  And also, when it comes to changing your
• 14:21:00
  daily habits, don't think that your
• 14:21:02
  individual actions don't
• 14:21:05
  have an impact because they do,
• 14:21:06
  because they do, especially when we team
• 14:21:06
  especially when we team everybody's
• 14:21:09
  efforts that accumulates and it's going
• 14:21:11
  to have an even
• 14:21:12
  greater impact on our city.
• 14:21:15
  Fantastic. Now, thank you for everything
• 14:21:16
  that you do. Because of you, there's a
• 14:21:19
  little less trash on the street.
• 14:21:20
  little less trash on the streets. That's
• 14:21:21
  That's the goal.
• 14:21:22
  the goal. We appreciate you taking your
• 14:21:22
  We appreciate you taking your time and
• 14:21:24
  the best of luck in the future.
• 14:21:26
  Thank you. Thank you for having me.
• 14:21:26
  Thank you. Thank you for having me.
• 14:21:27
  Thank you. Thank you for having me.
• 14:21:28
  And thank you for joining us
• 14:21:29
  for Inside West Palm Beach.
• 14:21:31
  West Palm Beach. Hey, we may have a new
• 14:21:31
  Hey, we may have a new name, but we're
• 14:21:33
  close to completing our
• 14:21:34
  third year of production.
• 14:21:36
  third year of production. We've got many
• 14:21:36
  We've got many past podcasts available
• 14:21:38
  for your listening pleasure.
• 14:21:39
  listening pleasure. We're available on
• 14:21:40
  We're available on all
• 14:21:41
  major podcast outlets.
• 14:21:42
  all major podcast outlets. Just search
• 14:21:43
  Just search for The City of West Palm
• 14:21:45
  Beach and you'll find our
• 14:21:46
  shows, both past and present.
• 14:21:48
  If you have comments or other ideas for
• 14:21:49
  If you have comments or other ideas for
• 14:21:50
  shows, please feel free to
• 14:21:52
  write us at podcast at wpb.org.
• 14:21:55
  podcast at wpb.org. This has been a
• 14:21:56
  This has been a production of The City of
• 14:21:57
  West Palm Beach
• 14:21:58
  Communications Department.
• 14:21:59
  Communications Department. I'm Jerry
• 14:22:00
  I'm Jerry Marcello.
• 14:22:01
  Marcello. We'll see you next time.
• 14:22:01
  We'll see you next time.