~ Springfield Mayor Ken McClure has issued a challenge to the community for a cleaner and greener Springfield by 2025. The initiative, known as Clean Green Springfield, is part of the city's comprehensive plan, Forward SGF.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of Clean Green Springfield, which has mobilized over 1000 volunteers annually since its inception in 2021. These volunteers have helped pick up litter, plant trees and flowers, and complete other projects to improve the city's appearance.

In addition to this milestone, 2025 also marks the 50th birthday of Springfield's Noble Hill Sanitary Landfill. As one of the few cities in Missouri that owns and operates its own landfill, this publicly owned facility plays a crucial role in the community's waste management strategy. It provides a local solution for trash disposal, eliminating the need to transport waste over 60 miles to another facility. Furthermore, all revenue generated from the landfill is reinvested into community services such as recycling drop-off sites, the Yardwaste Recycling Center, and the Household Chemical Collection Center. The landfill also maintains some of the lowest tipping fees in the state, offering significant savings potential for local businesses and residents. Owning their own landfill gives Springfield a distinct advantage in ensuring a reliable and cost-effective approach to waste management for years to come.

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However, with an increasing amount of trash being received daily at Noble Hill Landfill, its lifespan is rapidly shrinking. To address this issue, Mayor McClure emphasizes the importance of diverting waste from the landfill through improved recycling efforts.

"The Noble Hill landfill is a vital asset to our community, but its space for waste disposal is limited," said Errin Kemper, Director of Environmental Services. "To make the most of this resource, it's essential that we learn more about what's in Springfield's trash. By improving recycling efforts and diverting more material from the landfill, we can reduce pressure on the facility and improve the services we offer. Understanding the makeup of our waste will help us provide more effective solutions for the community."

To gain a better understanding of the community's waste habits, the city has recently completed a citizen trash and recycling survey and will be conducting a waste characterization study in the near future.

"We want to understand the challenges our community faces with recycling and trash disposal," Kemper explained. "There are barriers to recycling, and the city is working to improve participation. We're also hearing from neighborhoods about issues with trash disposal, including household waste and bulky items being left in backyards or dumped in alleyways. This not only makes our community look bad but is also harmful to the environment."

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Looking ahead to 2026, Springfield has several major events on its horizon, including the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the FIFA World Cup taking place in nearby Kansas City, and America's 250th birthday celebration. With all eyes on Springfield, Mayor McClure is calling on residents to join in on Clean Green Springfield efforts.

"What Can You Do?" asks Mayor McClure. "Start cleaning whenever you're out and about by bringing a bag and collecting litter as you go. Stay engaged this spring by participating in Clean Green Springfield opportunities such as volunteer litter pick-ups, neighborhood cleanups, beautification projects, and more. And don't forget to share your progress by reporting how many pieces of litter you've collected through the city's communication channels."

As Springfield prepares for these significant events and milestones, it is crucial for residents to come together and make a collective effort towards a cleaner and greener city by 2025. With Mayor McClure's challenge and continued efforts from the city, Clean Green Springfield aims to make this vision a reality.

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