Celebrating World Environment Day 2026 with a Trash Dash

What better way to celebrate World Environment Day than by rolling up our sleeves and caring for the places we share?

On June 5, five dedicated volunteers joined Sustainable Stillwater MN for a lunchtime Trash Dash. While rain was in the forecast earlier in the week, the weather cooperated just in time, giving us a warm, dry hour to make a difference.

Together, volunteers collected approximately 11 pounds of litter and two pints of cigarette butts from the community. Along the way, we uncovered a few unexpected treasures, including a fishing lure, a full tube of Burt’s Bees lip balm, and a lonely pair of socks. We also took the time to carefully remove every piece of a shattered glass bottle to help keep the area safe for people, pets, and wildlife.

Much of the litter we found consisted of small items that are easy to overlook—bottle caps, candy wrappers, sucker sticks, bits of plastic, streamer strings, and even gum stuck to the pavement. It's a reminder that even the smallest pieces of litter add up, and that every cleanup effort makes a visible difference.

Beyond the trash collected, the event offered something equally valuable: an opportunity for community members to connect, spend time outdoors, and take positive action together. Volunteers shared that they enjoyed the lunchtime format and appreciated being able to fit environmental stewardship into their workday.

A huge thank you to Lindsay, Jenny, Katie, Leslie, and Roger for helping make this World Environment Day cleanup a success. Your efforts helped create a cleaner, healthier community for everyone.

Every piece of litter removed matters—and every volunteer makes a difference.