Spring is on its way to downtown Spokane, and the community is invited to get outside between May 1 – 5 to help make our city center shine.

All it takes is 15 minutes a week to keep your community clean all year long. Pledge to spend 15 minutes by yourself, or with a team, cleaning up problem areas you see. Clean-up spaces around your home or place of business, or contact the Downtown Spokane office to coordinate a team clean-up and receive supplies and assistance.

Daily areas of emphasis:

• Monday: Sidewalks
• Tuesday: Parking lots
• Wednesday: Alleyways
• Thursday: Planter and tree beds

On Friday, May 5 join the Downtown Business Improvement District for a celebration of hard work at David’s Pizza.

Register to participate through Volunteer Spokane as part of Spokane Gives Month.

In partnership with Spring Clean Week, join Spokane Arts to help with spring mural cleanup. Help make the downtown core even more beautiful and ensure everyone can enjoy public art throughout the city. Tasks will include washing and prepping murals for repair. Lunch and a t-shirt will be provided. For more information, visit the Spokane Arts website.

Downtown is challenging businesses to make the pledge to reduce the amount waste, litter and energy created. During Spring Clean Week implement one, or several, of the suggestions below and make a big difference a little bit at a time.

• The number one item of litter is food waste. Offer a deal for diners who bring in their own mugs or re-usable containers for to-go beverages.
• Establish smoking areas with appropriate ash receptacles for employees and customers.
• Encourage customers to bring their own bag, sell re-usable cloth bags or only use bags for large and bulky items.
• Plant and maintain flowers along a curb or sidewalk. People litter less where areas have been beautified.
• Open garbage cans will get rummaged through. Invest in a locking dumpster or a gated area to dispose of trash. Work with neighboring properties to collaborate on the best place for trash to go.
• Install motion sensor lights in alley to reduce energy use and create safe, well-lit spaces.
• Clean and safe

The downtown Clean Team encourages participants to dispose of materials safely.

Please do not reach into bushes or other areas which may contain potentially harmful items such as drug paraphernalia, needles, broken glass, etc. Use gloves at all times, do not pick anything up with your bare hands. Stay away from biological waste. If you encounter any of the preceding call the Clean Team at 509.624.9111. Report graffiti to the City of Spokane by calling 3-1-1.

Follow all traffic signs and signals when crossing streets. If you are working on a sidewalk please wear a reflective safety vest. Please do not make any attempt at waking people up who may be in your way.

Spring Clean Week is presented with support from Republic Services

Republic Services, Inc. was incorporated in 1996 with a “can do” spirit, driving its dramatic growth and acquisitions through the years, welcoming other organizations that share its values and fiduciary discipline. Today, Republic Services, Inc. is the second largest provider of services in the domestic non-hazardous solid waste industry. Republic Services provides non-hazardous solid waste and recycling services for commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers.