Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge Prompts Record-Breaking 690 Cleanups
TOWSON, MD—Twenty-seven Baltimore County public schools were awarded a total of $43,000 in environmental grants Wednesday afternoon for their outstanding litter cleanup initiatives during the past year’s Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge. During this year’s challenge, 8,019 volunteers from schools and community-based groups conducted a record-breaking 690 cleanups, collecting 3,702 bags of trash that could have made its way into local streams and the Chesapeake Bay.
Since 2014, this innovative program has engaged nearly 60,000 BCPS students, staff, and community members, who participated in more than 4,000 hands-on litter cleanups, removing nearly 373,000 pounds of trash from our communities.
“Baltimore County is home to miles of beautiful shoreline, acres of forested parkland, and communities full of people who deserve a clean and healthy environment,” said County Executive Kathy Klausmeier. “The Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge is a great way to tap into residents’ community pride so we can eliminate litter in our neighborhoods and build a cleaner, greener future together.”
An Ongoing Commitment to Collaboration
The Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge is a joint program of the Klausmeier administration, BCPS, and the Education Foundation of BCPS that engages students and community members in removing litter from their communities. The Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability and the Education Foundation funded a combined $23,000 in support of the program. This year, the Baltimore Community Foundation provided a $20,000 grant to the Education Foundation to fund Green Boost Grants, which focus on Community Schools within the Gwynns Falls and Jones Falls watersheds. Baltimore County is under state and federal mandates to reduce the amount of trash in these two waterways. Community Schools are public schools that offer additional services to support students and their families.
“Congratulations to all those who participated in helping to keep our schools, grounds, and communities clean and green,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers. “Their efforts through Clean Green 15 will create dividends for years to come. Caring for the environment, their schools, and neighborhoods has benefits that touch on the health, well-being, and success of our students and their families, and their work today will go a long way to creating responsible, caring citizens tomorrow.”
2024/2025 Clean Green 15 Results
Nearly 50 BCPS schools participated in this year’s litter challenge, competing from May 2024 through April 2025 to record the most litter cleanups. The program is open to any group, including school-based groups, places of worship, youth groups, civic or community groups, scout troops, sports teams, businesses, or other organizations. Groups are asked to report their cleanups on the Clean Green 15 hub website and designate a BCPS school to receive credit for the grant competition.
In addition to picking up littered trash, Clean Green 15 volunteers collected bulk trash items from parks, streambanks, schoolyards, and other locations throughout Baltimore County. Cleanups included schoolchildren organized by teachers during the school day as well as community-sponsored activities.
The Education Foundation of Baltimore County will award grants to the top 27 winning schools to fund school-based environmental projects. Examples could include constructing an outdoor classroom, installing a rain or butterfly garden, planting trees and native plants, diverting downspouts, and environmental education projects.
Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge
Winning Schools – School Year 2024 – 2025
| Grand Prize - Cleanup Results | $3,000 | Catonsville Elementary School |
| Grand Prize – Volunteers | $3,000 | Pinewood Elementary School |
| Special School – 1st Prize | $2,000 | Watershed Public Charter School |
| Special School – 2nd Prize | $1,500 | Battle Monument School |
| High School – 1st Prize | $2,000 | Western School of Technology |
| High School – 2nd Prize | $1,500 | Carver Center for Arts and Technology |
| High School – 3rd Prize | $1,000 | Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts |
| Middle School – 1st Prize | $2,000 | Dumbarton Middle School |
| Middle School – 2nd Prize | $1,500 | Perry Hall Middle School |
| Middle School – 3rd Prize | $1,000 | General John Stricker Middle School |
| Elementary School – 1st Prize | $2,000 | Carney Elementary School |
| Elementary School – 2nd Prize | $1,500 | Hillcrest Elementary School |
| Elementary School – 3rd Prize | $1,000 | Carroll Manor Elementary School |
| Baltimore Community Foundation Green Boost Grant Awards | Community Schools located within the Gwynns Falls or Jones Falls Watersheds | |
| CS High School – 1st Prize | $2,000 | Woodlawn High School |
| CS High School–- 2nd Prize | $1,500 | Owings Mills High School |
| CS Middle School – 1st Prize | $2,000 | Woodlawn Middle School |
| CS Elementary School – 1st Prize | $2,000 | Hebbville Elementary School |
| CS Elementary School – 2nd Prize | $1,500 | Woodmoor Elementary School |
| CS Elementary School – 3rd Prize | $1,000 | Featherbed Lane Elementary School |
| CS Honorable Mention | $900 | Bedford Elementary School |
| CS Honorable Mention | $900 | Church Lane Elementary School |
| CS Honorable Mention | $900 | Deer Park Elementary School |
| CS Honorable Mention | $900 | Edmondson Heights Elementary School |
| CS Honorable Mention | $900 | Johnnycake Elementary School |
| CS Honorable Mention | $900 | Milbrook Elementary School |
| CS Honorable Mention | $900 | Wellwood Elementary School |
| CS Honorable Mention | $900 | Woodholme Elementary School |
Next Year’s Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge is Underway
In addition to awarding prizes to the winning schools from this year, officials also promoted participation in next year’s Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter. Eligible groups may log cleanups from May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026 for consideration in the next awards cycle.