West Virginia's Annual Make It Shine Cleanup Kicks Off

Thousands of volunteers across the state will participate in the two-week litter removal event.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 8:33pm

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The annual West Virginia Make It Shine statewide cleanup program is set to begin on Monday, with an estimated 2,000 volunteers from 45 counties expected to contribute over the next two weeks. The cleanup, organized by the state's Department of Environmental Protection's Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP) program, relies heavily on community volunteers to pick up litter across public lands, streams, and other areas.

Why it matters

The Make It Shine program has been running since 1994 and is a key part of West Virginia's efforts to maintain clean and litter-free public spaces. The diversity of volunteers, from kids to older adults, highlights the community-driven nature of the initiative and its importance in fostering environmental stewardship across the state.

The details

Program coordinator Chris Cartwright said the REAP program provides resources like bags, gloves, and waste disposal to volunteers who want to organize cleanups throughout the year, not just during the two-week spring event. Last year, over 3,800 volunteers helped remove 98 tons of litter from 99 acres of land and 53 miles of streams.

  • The 2026 Make It Shine cleanup officially begins on Monday, April 7.
  • The cleanup event will run through April 19.

The players

Chris Cartwright

The program coordinator for the West Virginia Make It Shine cleanup initiative, who has overseen the event for the past two years after previously leading it in the 1990s.

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

The state agency that runs the Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP) program, which organizes and supports the annual Make It Shine cleanup.

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What they’re saying

“The West Virginia Make It Shine program and the REAP program in general, we do our best to manage our cleanups throughout the year with volunteers, so if you're interested in doing anything in your community — a stream cleanup, a local cemetery, a park, a river bank, anything on public grounds basically — you can call our office at any time of the year and we will do our best to get you resources to do your cleanup.”

— Chris Cartwright, Program Coordinator

“We've got kids out working, we've got older people out working, we've got neighborhood associations, watershed associations. The amount of people that are out there, that you get to meet, and that are really, truly interested in going out and doing good work in their communities, it makes it all worthwhile.”

— Chris Cartwright, Program Coordinator

What’s next

Individuals and groups interested in participating in the Make It Shine cleanup or organizing their own community cleanup event can contact the REAP program office to get connected with resources and support.

The takeaway

The Make It Shine program demonstrates the power of community-driven environmental stewardship, with thousands of West Virginia residents of all ages coming together each year to keep public spaces clean and litter-free. The program's longevity and continued growth highlight the state's commitment to preserving its natural resources and instilling a sense of pride and ownership in local communities.