Water-Related News

Residents invited to participate in Keep Lake Beautiful cleanup events in Astatula and Groveland

Keep Lake Beautiful (KLB), whose mission is to beautify Lake County by engaging the community, is inviting residents to two community cleanup events in March.

The town of Astatula Community Cleanup will be held on Saturday, March 4 from 9 a.m. to noon at Joe Swaffer Park, 25332 Jefferson St., Astatula, and the joint city of Groveland/city of Mascotte event will be hosted on Saturday, March 18 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Ace Hardware, 1007 W. Broad St., Groveland.

Residents are encouraged to clean their homes and yards, and bring excess trash, passenger car tires, and any other items that might hold water that could breed mosquitos and spread the Zika virus. Lake County’s Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Unit will be on-site at both locations accepting household hazardous waste, paint, unwanted medications, fuel and more.

KLB and its sponsors, including the Florida Department of Health in Lake County, will provide gloves, safety vests, trash bags and water to volunteers helping to clean the community. Volunteers are asked to wear proper attire, and bring sunscreen and insect repellent. Volunteers must be 16 years or older, or must be accompanied by an adult.

Since its launch, Keep Lake Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, has hosted or partnered on nearly 20 projects including community and waterway cleanups, roadside litter pickups, neighborhood and school beautification events, tree plantings and household hazardous waste drop-offs. Last year alone, 365 KLB volunteers dedicated more than 1,252 hours collecting more than 30,900 pounds of litter and 2,600 pounds of recyclables.

To register as a volunteer or to become a sponsor of future events in Lake County, visit www.lakecountyfl.gov/KLB or contact Keep Lake Beautiful Coordinator Will Dawson at 352-742-3950.