INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) continues spring cleaning around the city by further pursuing its partnership with Keys to Work, an organization focused on helping ex-offenders and those experiencing homelessness re-enter the workforce through its Pathways to Employment program.
“Collaborating with Keys to Work is one of the many ways the Department of Public Works and the City as a whole work to engage with outside partners to help address issues facing the entire city, such as litter,” said Indy DPW Director Dan Parker. “We should all be doing our part to minimize litter across Indianapolis, but this is one way the City actively works towards litter abatement.”
Crews began collecting litter the week of March 1st, targeting corridors that teams and visitors would be traveling throughout the NCAA tournament. With the tournament over, crews will begin working from a set list of locations across the city, focusing on major thoroughfare medians and entry routes into downtown.
Crews collected 450 bags of litter in preparation for and during the NCAA tournament. Since then crews have collected an additional 285 bags, for a total of 735 bags throughout 2021.
Indy DPW, the Office of Public Health and Safety, and Keys to Work entered into this partnership to help keep Indianapolis clean, while also providing stable jobs to ex-offenders and those experiencing homelessness.
In 2018, Keys to Work staff closed out a backlog of nearly 3,000 resident reported cases of illegal dumping in alleys, medians, roadways, and greenways. In 2019, Keys to Work staff picked up over 42 tons of litter across Indianapolis. Starting this year crews will also begin to focus on graffiti abatement across the city.
There are multiple ways residents can help crews picking up litter as well as overall clean-up efforts. Motorists should slow down if they see these crews working and drive carefully to give them the space they need. Citizens should also refrain from littering, making sure all waste is secured in bags inside of trash carts.
If citizens would like to become more involved in preventing litter, Indy DPW encourages them to contact Keep Indianapolis Beautiful about their Adopt-A-Block or Great Indy Cleanup programs, which empowers neighborhoods to keep their streets, sidewalks and lawns litter free.
KIB offers neighborhoods resources to clean up, using volunteers in the neighborhood. KIB supplies dumpsters, trash bags and gloves to organizers. Visit their Web site at kibi.org/great-indy-cleanup for more information about how to organize a cleanup.
Illegal dumping in alleys is a serious challenge to the city. Report illegal dumping to the Mayor’s Action Center by calling 317-327-4622 or visiting indy.gov for the online complaint form.
