Montgomery, Ala. — As April ushers in National Community College Month, community service projects are springing into action across Alabama. Students, faculty, and staff from Alabama’s community colleges are joining forces to beautify their communities through a series of litter pickup events in partnership with Alabama People Against a Littered State (PALS) and the Coca-Cola UNITED spring cleanup, “Don’t Drop It on Alabama.”

“For more than 60 years, Alabama’s community colleges have been a powerhouse for positive change across the state. Our collaboration with community partners is a testament to our promise to serving Alabama in meaningful ways – working together to make life better and drive success statewide,” said Jimmy H. Baker, Chancellor of the ACCS.

In 2024, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) collected 18,377 pounds (9 tons) of trash, debris, and recyclables during its spring cleanup, marking a remarkable 67% increase from the 2023 total of 11,000 pounds (5.5 tons).

“Spring is a time of renewal, and what better way to embrace it than by uniting as a community?” said Jamie Mitchell, Executive Director of Alabama PALS. “It’s inspiring to see people come together for this important cause, proving that we all have a role in keeping Alabama cleaner and greener. We are especially proud of our partnership with the ACCS and its colleges and the wonderful work they continue to do each year to eliminate litter in their communities.”

This year’s spring cleanup welcomes the Osprey Initiative, a champion of environmental stewardship, to enhance recycling efforts at 24 Alabama’s community and technical colleges. This partnership will further strengthen waste reduction efforts throughout the state.

“Osprey Initiative is thrilled to partner on this recycling expansion for the Alabama PALS Spring Cleanup,” said Don Bates, President and Founder of Osprey.  “A crucial step in reducing litter is increasing recycling efforts to prevent it from becoming litter in the first place. Coca-Cola’s commitment to using recyclable materials in its products has helped expand opportunities for programs like this. As always, the leadership shown by Alabama PALS and the ACCS in organizing events like this makes it easy for Osprey to get involved!”

The ACCS has more than 30 events scheduled across the state, community members welcomed to join their local college in its efforts.