Trash Party volunteers clean up Columbus
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Trash Party volunteers show off their haul after a recent cleanup event. Photos: Courtesy of Collin Marshall
There's a party Sunday and you're all invited — just be ready to get your hands dirty.
Why it matters: The grassroots Trash Party group has been uniting strangers to pick up litter across Columbus, and its cleanup efforts are drawing praise from city leaders.
Stunning stat: In just a few months, volunteers have already collected 1,500 bags of trash.
- They've also hauled away 50 shopping carts, dozens of tires and hundreds of propane tanks, with all the waste totaling over 18,000 pounds.
Flashback: It all started with a Reddit post by local engineer Collin Marshall, who noticed lots of litter along local highways and on the trails near his neighborhood.
- "It just feels so easy to get a grabber, get a trash bag and just fill up a bag while you're going on a walk," he tells Axios.
- "I figured, there's gotta be more people interested in this than just me."
He was right — though it took time to gain momentum. For the first event, just a friend and a roommate joined Marshall in cleaning up an alleyway.
The latest: Today, Trash Party has grown to 30-40 people meeting up every weekend, all from different parts of town and walks of life.
- Keep Columbus Beautiful, a city improvement program, has provided supplies.
- Schmidt's donated free meals via its food truck, and businesses like JPMorgan Chase have sent volunteers to help.
Between the lines: Beyond cleaning up litter, Trash Party volunteers are bonding over their shared desire to do good at a time when people are feeling increasingly isolated.
- They're also connecting with local people and places Marshall says are often "forgotten," including homeless encampments.
What's next: Marshall plans to keep hosting events as long as interest endures.
- "That's the cool thing about this: At the moment, I don't know what the future looks like," he says.
Stop by: This weekend's event is 9am–noon Sunday on the South Side. Sign up.
- Can't make it? Check Instagram for the next one or send donations over Venmo.