Some things can’t be done while social distancing, but one thing that can be is picking up trash outdoors.

The City of High Point is asking residents to do exactly that as part of the city’s “Fifth Annual Winter Wipeout Campaign.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, the city, along with Keep High Point Beautiful, announced the start of the 2021 incarnation of the annual litter cleanup campaign.  The beautification project will focus on collecting trash that’s accumulated along the city’s roadways and at intersections.

The campaign kicks off on Monday, Feb. 8, and runs for one month – through Sunday, March 7. During that time, volunteers taking part in the program will be able to pick up their supplies and clean up the city on their own schedules.

The city’s past four cleanups have done a lot of good, and the officials behind the effort are billing the new campaign as an easy way to help beautify High Point, take care of the environment and serve the community at the same time.

“The campaign time frame of four weeks allows for volunteers to choose when it is most convenient for them to clean up,” the city’s event announcement states.  “During the winter months, the trash that has been hidden by vegetation is revealed. While many trees, vines and flowers lay dormant, we are better able to see and reach what has been hidden for weeks or possibly months.” 

Keep High Point Beautiful has compiled a list of litter hotspots based on information provided by the people who’ve alerted the group of eyesore areas in the city, which are posted at the website www.highpointnc.gov/khpb.

Once a litter “hotspot” – a street, a stream, a park, etc. – is received, its  posted to the online Litter Hotspots Map.  Community groups helping out with the effort can submit their own litter hotspots to clean – or they can select an area using the existing map that’s linked to the online registration form.

 Keep High Point Beautiful will provide trash and recycling bags, gloves, safety vests and grabbers to the participating groups.

Those groups can then conduct the cleanup effort anytime between Monday, Feb. 8 and Sunday, March 7.  They’ll be able to place the bags of trash at the side of the road for pickup.

Once the cleanup is complete, the groups can report the number of bags collected and the number of volunteers who participated by completing the data reporting card provided.

Those interested in participating can go to www.highpointnc.gov/winterwipeoutto get more information or they can call Rebecca Coplin at 336-883-3520 or email her at rebecca.coplin@highpointnc.gov.