City Manager's 1 Bag Challenge #1BagBlitz

In 2012 my passion for a clean and beautiful Cedar Rapids led to the creation of the City Manager’s 1 Bag Challenge. The program encourages all Cedar Rapids residents to do their part to make our community better by picking up at least one bag of litter each year. We make the process simple by providing litter clean-up kits, which include a special 1-Bag Challenge green litter bag, and gloves. Once filled, the bags can be placed on the curb with your regular trash and will be collected for free.

This time of year, when the weather starts warming up and snow is gone, we start to see the litter that has accumulated over the winter in neighborhoods and on the side of roads. With the 1 Bag Challenge, it’s easy for individuals and organizations to clean up areas where they work, live or play. Litter clean-up kits can be picked up at various locations around the city including several Hy-Vee customer service counters, City Hall, City Services Center, both Cedar Rapids Public Library locations, and NewBo City Market. This year, I’m introducing a special campaign called the 1 Bag Blitz. As part of the Blitz, I am specifically asking businesses, groups or individuals who do a clean-up to post a video or photo on their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram page and challenge another individual, business or group to also take the City Manager’s 1 Bag Challenge. Be sure to tag the person or entity you’ve challenged and use #1BagBlitz with your post. The Blitz is a simple way to continue the clean-up momentum and get more people involved with the City Manager’s 1 Bag Challenge. For a full list of locations where kits are available and complete details on how to participate in the City Manager’s 1 Bag Challenge, visit www.CleanUpCR.com.

Unfortunately, litter is an ongoing problem that requires an ongoing solution. That’s why I continue to believe in this program and strongly encourage and appreciate all efforts to clean up our community.

Jeff Pomeranz