Cape Coral Earth Day cleanup draws volunteers to remove city litter

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — Neighbors in Cape Coral said they want to clean up the Cape as part of Earth Day efforts across Southwest Florida.

The Cape Coral city-wide cleanup efforts began with volunteers gathering to pick up litter across the city. Hours later, the work left behind was still visible, with trash already piling up and awaiting pickup.

City leaders said the Earth Day cleanup efforts are about getting volunteers out across the city to pick up litter, bag it, and report it online so city crews can come collect it.

WINK News Cape Coral reporter Paul Dolan met City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn near Chiquita Boulevard and Pine Island Road for the third Cape Coral Earth Day cleanup event.

"Success for today is having all the trash that we have spread around the city picked up," Ilczyszyn said.

This year, the city is asking people to do more than fill bags. City leaders said they want people who are cleaning to also log where the trash is so crews can take it away afterward.

Long-time Cape Coral local Sean Hartman said it's not just about the beautiful results but about the community built together. "We are a family-friendly community, so this litter is not just a beautification issue and a natural issue; it's a safety issue for our community," Hartman said.

The city manager said the goal is to make this bigger than just a one-day push, with neighbors able to take part when they can and the city tracking what is picked up across Cape Coral. Volunteers say for them, this is about keeping the city beautiful but also safe because the litter they see most often includes things like cigarette butts, broken glass and bottles.