BATAVIA, OH – The 2021 Summer Litter Clean-Up (SLC) will be promoted with a new logo, created by Ms. Ellie Arkus, an 11^th grade student at New Richmond High School. Registration for the SLC is currently underway and volunteers are wanted to help with litter removal events and activities throughout the entire month of June.

Volunteers may register via the event website and have the option to join in-person events (space limited), or keep things virtual with Do-It-Yourself (DIY) activities in local communities. These options will help the communities have a successful clean-up and adhere to current Covid safety protocols.

The student design contest is sponsored by the Southern Ohio Association of Realtors (SOAR) to promote litter awareness and prevention in K-12^th grade schools and to kick-start advertisement for the annual SLC event. Ellie’s design was selected from over 120 entries. “We’re always impressed with the creativity of our local students. Congratulations to Ellie and New Richmond High School,” says Carrie McIntosh-Owens, president of SOAR.

SLC is coordinated each year by the Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Valley View Foundation (VVF) and partially supported with a grant from Ohio EPA, Division of Recycling and Litter Prevention.

“We were excited to have had so many students submit artwork for the contest,” said Vanessa Hannah, executive director with the Valley View Foundation. “Ellie’s design will be a great way to promote the event and hopefully draw a lot of local volunteers to help in this year’s litter clean-up.”

Clean-up materials, including protective gloves and trash bags, can be made available for all volunteers at specific locations across Clermont County. Additional event details, including online registration, can be found at: www.springlittercleanup.com. For more information, contact the Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District at 513.732.7075 or the Valley View Foundation at 513.218.1098.