More than 5,500 people in DFW have pledged to pick up 10 pieces of trash every Tuesday as part of an area-wide anti-litter campaign. Courtesy of Reverse Litter.

May 13, 2014

You may have noticed the slogan lately on billboards, buses and in TV and radio ads. Friendly folks of all ages are touting that they "took the pledge to pick up 10.”

It's called Ten on Tuesday. In an effort to curb litter, North Texans are being asked to lend a hand by picking up 10 pieces of trash every Tuesday.

The cleanup program is part of the Reverse Litter campaign, a partnership of the Tarrant Regional Water District and the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Denton and Mansfield. The coalition, launched in 2012, aims to educate the public on how litter eventually ends up in rivers, creeks and lakes, including those that supply our drinking water.

Ten on Tuesday billboard you may have seen recently in North Texas.

According to Chad Lorance of the Tarrant Regional Water District, North Texas cities and agencies spend about $23 million a year to clean up litter.

“We want to increase awareness about how important this issue is," he said. "No matter how trash ends up on the ground, it eventually ends up in our water sources.” 

The weekly trash bash appears to be gaining momentum. Last month, after an Earth Day blitz, Ten on Tuesday reached its initial goal of getting 5,000 people to sign up. According to Reverse Litter coordinator Kari Schmidt, that means more than 2.6 million pieces of trash are being removed from North Texas streets and waterways annually thanks to Ten on Tuesday volunteers. 

Event-goers take the Ten on Tuesday pledge at Earth Day Texas in Dallas last month.

“We were absolutely thrilled,” said Schmidt of the milestone. “That means people are taking notice.”

It also means more people understand where that bag blowing across the parking lot could be headed.

“After a rain storm, people have a light bulb moment, when they see trash along the river banks,” said Schmidt. “It’s like ‘oh my gosh that’s where the trash ends up.’” 

As for where to pick up litter to join the efforts  – anywhere you find it.

Debbie Branch, coordinator for Keep Fort Worth Beautiful, said she usually grabs her 10 on Tuesday on one of her breaks at her office in downtown Fort Worth. 

“Sadly, it’s not hard to find trash at all,” she said. “I can’t even make it to the street without seeing 10 cigarette butts or other pieces of trash.”

Ten on Tuesday volunteer in Fort Worth.

Take the 10 on Tuesday Pledge. 

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