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The Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association will host a litter clean-up day May 22 beginning at 9 a.m. at four locations throughout the area. The first regional event of its kind will join area litter prevention and sustainable tourism partners with hopes of an annual event.
The litter clean-up will take place on May 22 beginning at 9 a.m. at locations in Elizabethton, Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol. Advance volunteer registration is highly encouraged in order to provide proper COVID safety measures. To volunteer, visit LitterFreeTennessee.com to select your location and receive details.
Additional partners include Keep Carter County Beautiful, Keep Kingsport Beautiful, Honda of Kingsport, Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute, the Northeast Tennessee Outdoor Coalition, Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership, Sequoyah Council of Boy Scouts of America, Bristol Forests Rally, as well as invested individuals and activists.
“As a tourism destination marketing organization, it is important that we use our platform to not only share the story and outdoor recreation opportunities of Northeast Tennessee, but to also protect and preserve the lands that make our area such a popular place for a visit,” Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association Executive Director Alicia Phelps said.
Northeast Tennessee outdoor recreation has increased since the pandemic began in 2020 as a popular hobby for locals, as well as for visitors.
“While we’ve seen an increase in these activities and destinations that are hidden in our mountains, we’ve also seen an unfortunate amount of trash and human trace,” Phelps said. “Litter clean-ups are important, but so is education about Leave No Trace ethics and respect of our outdoor assets.”