Earth Month Round-up in Rutherford County
- Keep RC Beautiful Staff
- Jun 13
- 4 min read
Keep Rutherford County Beautiful is thrilled to share the results of an inspiring ninth annual Earth Month this past April 2025. Programs and events for this year included school visits from Keep Rutherford County Beautiful’s mascot, Rocki, scholarship awards, the RecycleBot Challenge, and inspirational leaders guiding groups through roadsides, parks, and parking lots to collect litter in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). The completion of Earth Month once again showed the passion and commitment our community members have for our beautiful county.
Businesses, students, teachers, churches, and community members came together for a successful Spring Litter Sweep, involving 21 groups with 173 volunteers and almost 4,000 pounds of litter collected across the county. KRCB's Spring Litter Sweep is held alongside NCDOT's efforts, which resulted in 7,000 pounds of litter collected from our roadsides. Collectively, volunteers and NCDOT crews cleaned up 11,000 pounds of litter from Rutherford County! Following Spring Litter Sweep, Tourism Development Authority scheduled paid pick-up of remaining roads in need of clean-up. These collective efforts all contribute to keeping our county green and clean for locals and visitors alike.
Passionate leaders led the Spring Litter Sweep teams, including Team Christi and Van Boothe, Team Rutherfordton Elementary, Team First Baptist Rutherfordton and First United Methodist Church Youth Groups, Team Art Mills, Team Foothills Realtor Association, Team Mu Beta Phi Military Fraternity, Team Rutherford County Library, Team Artifacturing, Team Rutherfordton Tourist Development Authority, Team Lake Lure Classical Academy- lead by Evelyn Warner, Team Byers Family, Team Trelleborg, Team Befesa, and multiple groups lead by Trish Begens and Terrell Lewis.
Spring Litter Sweep is made possible by the donated bags and pick-up services by NCDOT, funding and collaboration from Tourism Development Authority, and the incredible work of KRCB committee members and volunteers.
The Keep Rutherford County Beautiful team also visited multiple schools in celebration of Earth Month to discuss the importance of “Leave No Trace” principles and recycling. Lake Lure Classical Academy and Trinity Christian School met with Rocki to learn the importance of recycling through the RecycleBot Challenge, which was a staggering success with 101 entries and 24 winners across 8 categories. Our innovative winners received prizes generously donated by KidSenses Interactive Children’s Museum, Scoop Ice Cream of Forest City, and Cherry Mountain Farm and General Store.
Sunshine Elementary students celebrated Heritage Day by learning about agriculture, history, and recycling, excelling in their knowledge of what items are recyclable. The kindergarteners of Thomas Jefferson Grammar Academy learned the benefits of reusing items, like straws, from a fun and educational book reading. Rutherford Middle School and Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy participated in the Isothermal Community College Science Expo learning “Leave No Trace” principles and learning the time it takes for different trash items to break down, as well as what recycled and upcycled waste can become (Did you know?: Cigarette butts can become benches through TerraCycle!). Students across all ages demonstrated passion for their community and the environment by expressing their knowledge and desire to understand more.
“It’s inspiring to see students have a desire to learn about the environment," says Daphne Homen, Sustainability Coordinator with Rutherford Outdoor Coalition. "From Leave No Trace to upcycling to pollinator plants, we are thrilled to educate students during Earth Month and any time about how to help our county and planet."
In addition to programs with elementary and middle schools, Keep Rutherford County Beautiful awarded a $1,200 scholarship to local 2025 high school graduate, Aiden Wheeler of Rutherford Early College High School. The scholarship was graciously funded by Broad River Water Authority. We wish Aiden, and all the 2025 high school graduates the best luck with their upcoming endeavors and well-deserved congratulations!
Although Earth Month is officially over, Keep Rutherford County Beautiful is always busy facilitating events to keep our county clean and green. Beginning the last week of May, Keep Rutherford County Beautiful broke ground on a new pollinator garden that will be in downtown Spindale along the Thermal Belt Rail Trail. This groundbreaking is the first step in a multi-step plan which will include a pavilion and kiosk showcasing history, a map, and information about the pollinator garden. Already the community has come together with the help and donations from Ruff’ton Roots Community Garden and the Master gardeners from the NC State Extension office. In addition to upcoming volunteer opportunities for the pollinator garden, Keep Rutherford County Beautiful also has many litter sweeps and river sweeps this summer. Keep a look out for the exciting volunteer opportunities this summer!
Keep Rutherford County Beautiful began as an Earth Day litter pickup and has transformed into a movement throughout Rutherford County, North Carolina. Neighbors, industry leaders, business owners, schools and municipalities have joined forces to change the way we define community, leading programs and initiatives to propel Rutherford County's beautification forward. As of 2023, KRCB became an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s largest community improvement organization. This milestone is a testament to the work the organization has put in since 2017 and the progress they have made. Together, we are taking action to love where we live, work and play. For more information about KRCB, visit their website www.KeepRCNCBeautiful.org, Facebook page @KeepRCNCBeautiful, Instagram page @keeprcncbeautiful, or email KeepRCNCBeautiful@RutherfordCountyNC.gov.
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