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Issue: Winter 2026

Spring Clean-Up 2026

January 10, 2026

Mark your calendars!! The 2026 “Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Spring Cleanup will be here before you know it! The...

AL PALS by the Numbers – Winter 2026

January 10, 2026

Alabama People Against A Littered State (PALS) is dedicated to making our state more beautiful by sponsoring programs focused on...

Director’s Notes – Winter 2026

January 10, 2026

A new year is a perfect time to reset and reorganize. I don’t know about you, but I love a...

Clean Campus – Winter 2026 Gallery

January 10, 2026

Adopt-A-Mile Gallery – Winter 2026

January 10, 2026

Airbus Autauga River Clean-Up

...

2025 Alabama Coastal Clean-Up

January 10, 2026

Images from the 38th Annual Alabama Coastal Clean-Up can be found below. For more information about this program please visit...

Bear Exploration Center: Growing Green Leaders for Alabama

January 10, 2026

By Mary Bonikowski, Bear Visual Arts Teacher and Green Team Sponsor For more than a decade, Bear Exploration Center in...

The Chairman’s Corner – Winter 2026

January 10, 2026

By Jeff Helms, Chairman, Alabama PALS Change, whether planned or unexpected, can create fear or opportunity. The choice is ours....

2025 Governor’s Awards – Image Gallery

January 10, 2026

Please view the gallery on Flicker to see the following images in full resolution.

...

Message from AL DOT – Winter 2026

January 10, 2026

Message from John Cooper – Director, Alabama Dept. of Transportation As we reflect on a successful 2025, I want to...

Message from our Clean Campus State Coordinator – Winter 2026

January 10, 2026

Message from Shay Grant – Clean Campus State Coordinator Happy New Year! Now is the perfect time to incorporate cleanups...

Message from our State Adopt-A-Mile Coordinator – Winter 2026

January 10, 2026

Message from Christy Waddell – State Adopt-A-Mile Coordinator When you notice litter in our great state of Alabama, do you...

Spring Clean-Up 2026

Mark your calendars!! The 2026 “Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Spring Cleanup will be here before you know it! The 2025 Cleanup had a very high level of participation state-wide and yielded over 800 tons of litter removed from our roadways and communities! We are hoping for even more participation in 2026, so make plans for your group now!

It is not too late to sign up your county, group, or organization. Please visit www.alpals.org and click the green button that says “2026 Spring Clean Signup” to order bags and supplies for the 2026 effort. Very exciting news is that we have more supplies than ever for our groups! We have already ordered large, heavy-duty bags, recycling bags, grabbers, gloves and vests to offer groups, but they will be first come first serve, so sign up early to claim your supplies!

PALS is so fortunate to have Coca-Cola UNITED as our Title Sponsor again for the 2026 cleanup. We would like to thank them as well as ALDOT, Vulcan, Alfa, the Poarch Creek Indians, the Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust, EBSCO, the Holle Foundation, and The Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama for their contributions toward supplies and education for the “Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Spring Cleanup. Please thank these fine organizations and sponsors for their part in accomplishing a cleaner and more beautiful Alabama.

Please also thank your respective County Commission Chair or Engineer for their part in the cleanup since they take the time to coordinate and pickup supplies to distribute locally. We are grateful for their support and partnership. We are also thankful to the Association of County Commissions of Alabama for assisting PALS in communications and distribution of supplies to each county.

A very big THANK YOU to Jennifer Datcher with ACCA for all the work she does in organizing, communicating and scheduling with counties for pickups!

Recycling
If your group plans to recycle plastic soda bottles (PET1) and aluminum cans for the 2026 cleanup, recycling bags will be provided in addition to the heavy-duty cleanup bags. Please be sure to indicate if you plan to recycle on your form.

Important Dates for the 2026 Cleanup:

January	All Spring Cleanup Materials Ordered
January / February	All County/Group Contact Forms into PALS Office
February	Marketing Materials mailed to groups
March 2-13	Supply Pickup in Montgomery
April 2026	“Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Spring Cleanup Month

Materials Provided by PALS

Large, Heavy-Duty trash bags with corporate sponsor logos
Recycling bags with recycling logo
Foldable grabbers with PALS logo
Gloves with PALS Logo
Vests with PALS logo and VOLUNTEER on back
Marketing materials, window decals, sign-in sheets, liability forms, and PALS program brochures

The Spring Cleanup is also a great time to encourage your community to develop a litter plan and add the Adopt-A-Mile Program, Adopt-A-Stream Program, and Clean Campus Programs into your local area. These are all great tools to prevent and pick up litter year-round after the Spring Cleanup comes and goes.

Please let us know if we can assist you in any way in planning for the 2026 “Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Spring Cleanup. Thank you again for all that you and your groups do to further the goal of a cleaner and more beautiful Alabama. It is because of each of you that we can truly say “We are Making a Difference!”

-Jamie Mitchell, Executive Director, Alabama PALS

AL PALS by the Numbers – Winter 2026

Alabama People Against A Littered State (PALS) is dedicated to making our state more beautiful by sponsoring programs focused on cleaning up litter in Alabama’s streets, streams, campuses and coastlines. Below is the impact of that effort.

Millions in taxpayer dollars saved by PALS in litter control each year!

“Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Spring Clean-Up

64 counties involved in 2025
155,000 bags distributed in 2025
Over 800 Tons of litter collected in 2025

View Program

Adopt-A-Mile Program

925 sponsors
846 locations
938 miles adopted

View Program

Adopt-A-Stream Program

Eliminating litter at stream crossings in Alabama
Over 300 streams protected statewide

View Program

Clean Campus Program

Thousands of students educated each year on litter prevention
Bags & grabbers provided to all member schools
Contests for students & schools
Over $3,000 in scholarships given each year

View Program

Coastal Clean-Up

38 years and growing
Over 116,000 volunteers have participated over the years
Over 7,000 miles of shoreline have been cleaned
Over 1.8 million pounds of trash and debris have been cleaned from our shores

View Program

Governor’s Awards

65 individual and group awards given in 2025.

View Program

Director’s Notes – Winter 2026

A new year is a perfect time to reset and reorganize. I don’t know about you, but I love a list. Lists keep us on task, help us stay focused on what is most important, and keep us accountable for our actions. I have to-do lists on my phone, on multiple sticky notes around my desk, and in my calendar. Nothing is more satisfying than crossing off items from lists! Looking at all the to-do lists on my desk got me thinking…”What kind of list can we create to help others make a difference with litter in our state?” After coming across an old David Letterman episode on TV, I was inspired to make a Top 10 List… So here goes!

Top 10 Ways You Can Make a Difference with Litter in Alabama:

10) Keep a Trash Receptacle in Your Vehicle.

Whether this is a grocery bag or something you have purchased that is a little fancier, having a place for wrappers to go is key! See our request on page 14 to share your car trash receptacles with us!

9) Secure Trash in the Back of Trucks.

We see it all the time… Truck beds become wind tunnels on the interstate! From small bags of fast food to large boxes, if it isn’t secured, it will probably blow out. How about hosting a tarp giveaway in your community sponsored by PALS?

8) Report Illegal Dumping.

If you see an area that looks like it is becoming a problem, contact your county’s solid waste officer or local law
enforcement. PALS can help you contact the proper authority if you are not sure…

7) Lead by Example.

If you see a stray wrapper on your way into the store, pick it up and throw it away! You never know who is watching and what impact that might have!

6) Adopt-A-Mile or Stream Near You!

Visit www.alpals.org to learn more about the Adopt-A-Mile and Stream Programs and how to apply. There are nearly 1,000 miles adopted throughout the state. Let us help you find a mile near you to adopt!

5) Promote the Clean Campus Program.

Have your local schools sign up for the PALS Clean Campus Program to have access to curriculum ideas, a speaker to visit their school, contests for students, fun handouts and cleanup supplies!

4) Participate in the Alabama Coastal Cleanup.

The Alabama Coastal Cleanup is held on the 3rd Saturday of September each year. Make a plan to join us in 2026 to vacation and help our shorelines become litter-free!

3) Participate in the “Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Spring Cleanup.

Find a cleanup near you or start one of your own! The “Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Spring Cleanup sign up information can be found on page 14 in this newsletter or simply scan the QR code & be directed to the sign-up page. The 2025 Cleanup yielded over 800 tons of litter collected around the state! Wow! We are offering more supplies in 2026 such as grabbers and gloves.

2) Have PALS Representatives Come Meet with Your Community Leaders to Create a Litter Plan.

We are happy to meet with your local officials to create a litter plan for your community. We can thoroughly explain our programs and connect them with other successful counties that are having great results in keeping our roadways litter-free.

1) Don’t Litter!

This one is self-explanatory!
I realize that if you received this newsletter, you are already likely onboard with many of the points on this list. With that in mind, maybe the most important thing you can do is share this list with others around you! PALS is here to help you with the litter issues in your community. We have seen great strides made in the state, but there is always more work to do. Our Members, Volunteers, Board of Directors, Corporate Sponsors,
and Partners are truly the best out there. We could not do this important work without your friendship and support.

It is my sincerest hope that each of you have a blessed 2026 and find ways to make meaningful connections in your communities. Coming together with a common goal is one of the best ways to build community pride. As you turn the pages of this PALS Prints edition, please notice the smiles and pride among these great volunteers! It is always fun to see the camaraderie that comes from spending time together making a difference! And, if you have anything else to add to our list or other ideas to share, please send me an email anytime at [email protected]. Thank you again for an amazing 2025, and we look forward to a stellar 2026!

– Jamie Mitchell

Clean Campus – Winter 2026 Gallery

Adopt-A-Mile Gallery – Winter 2026

Airbus

“The Airbus Adopt-A-Mile program was accepted in 2022 in response to our initiative to request from employees’ suggestions for Ecofriendly and Inclusive ideas. The Adopt-A-Mile was recognized as a tangible way to create a positive impact to our community, contributing to the beauty and uniqueness of coastal Alabama. In talking with my fellow volunteers involved, the impression I get is there is an impact on us too as we are humbled and grateful to make a positive difference to our city.”
-Glen Whisnant, Airbus Engineering Center, Mobile

Autauga River Clean-Up

2025 Alabama Coastal Clean-Up

Images from the 38th Annual Alabama Coastal Clean-Up can be found below. For more information about this program please visit the Coastal Clean-Up program page.

Photos from AL PALS 2025 Costal Clean-Up event

Bear Exploration Center: Growing Green Leaders for Alabama

By Mary Bonikowski, Bear Visual Arts Teacher and Green Team Sponsor

For more than a decade, Bear Exploration Center in Montgomery has made environmental stewardship a core part of its culture. As a proud participant in the Alabama PALS Clean Campus Program, Bear isn’t just keeping its school clean—it’s shaping the next generation of Alabamians who care deeply about their community, their state, and their planet.

At the heart of this effort is the school’s environmental club, the Green Team. Founded in 2010 by parent volunteers, the Green Team has grown into a powerhouse of student leadership. Members help run Bear’s recycling programs, participate in monthly litter cleanups, create posters that remind classmates and visitors not to litter, and learn hands-on ways to protect the environment.

Fifth grader Jack Hardinger sums up the urgency of their mission in just five words: “People need to stop littering!” His classmate Kerri Williams shares what motivates her: “I feel proud when I go out and clean up litter around my school.” That sense of pride and responsibility echoes across the entire team—every member agrees that caring for the environment is essential to keeping the community healthy and beautiful.

The impact of the Clean Campus Program reaches far beyond the Green Team. Students and teachers alike have become more aware of how trash affects not only the school but the whole state of Alabama. This awareness fuels action. Teachers model good habits, students bring their knowledge home, and families become part of a wider community committed to creating a cleaner world.

Bear’s environmental efforts reach into every corner of campus, beginning with litter-pickup walks during P.E. and extending to the school’s outdoor classroom and garden. Here, raised beds and a teacher-built compost bin give students hands-on experience planting, weeding, harvesting, and sharing fresh vegetables with the community.

Recycling is a major focus at Bear—paper, ink cartridges, markers, glue sticks, and aluminum pop tabs are collected to keep waste out of landfills. These materials are handled with purpose: ink cartridges are sent to Planet Green Recycling, used writing supplies are taken to Staples, shredded paper is donated to the Montgomery Humane Society, and pop tabs are gathered for the Ronald McDonald House.

Creativity also plays a role in Bear’s sustainability work. Old crayons are melted into colorful new shapes for the annual art show, the PTA’s uniform recycling program supports families by passing along gently used clothing, the STEM Lab turns newspapers and milk jugs into learning tools, and the art room transforms everyday discards into imaginative works of art.

Through its strong partnership with the Alabama PALS Clean Campus Program, Bear Exploration Center continues to nurture students who understand the importance of keeping Alabama litter-free. Bear is so grateful to Alabama PALS for their support, inspiration, and for recognizing students for their efforts. Today these students are cleaning up their school—and tomorrow they’ll be leading the way toward a cleaner, greener Alabama.

The Chairman’s Corner – Winter 2026

By Jeff Helms, Chairman, Alabama PALS

Change, whether planned or unexpected, can create fear or opportunity. The choice is ours.

The past year brought tremendous change for Alabama PALS, and our staff met those opportunities with optimism, creativity and energy. Jamie, Christy and Shay didn’t just trudge through the changes, they seized the chance to position Alabama PALS for an even brighter future.

New management, a new office, new grant-writing team, new budgeting system, new partnerships, new awards venue, and new board members were just a few of the ways Alabama PALS grew this year. None of this would be possible without our staff who see PALS as not just a job but also a mission.

Even with so much to celebrate, change can be hard. This year, we missed the daily presence of our friend and founding executive director, Spencer Ryan. We mourned the passing of former board chairman, Doug Rigney. And, we remembered the servant life of longtime fundraiser and former lieutenant governor, George McMillan.

These men’s legacies can teach us lessons about change because their focus was on the future. Great leaders don’t toil each day so their absence will one day leave a painful void. They prepare the soil, plant the seeds and nurture the crop so it will yield a harvest beyond their individual abilities or imagination.

Alabama PALS is a great organization because leaders didn’t tolerate change — they initiated it. When former state forester, Bill Moody, and like-minded people envisioned PALS, it wasn’t to maintain the status quo. It was to make Alabama more beautiful, cleaner, healthier, BETTER. Their goal wasn’t only to remove litter. It was to change hearts, minds and attitudes about stewardship. It was to develop more responsible citizens and future leaders through volunteerism and community service.

In looking back at the accomplishments of 2025, I’m thankful our Alabama PALS staff, board of directors and countless volunteers are visionary leaders who recognize the opportunities that come with change. I’m excited about Jamie’s bold leadership, Christy’s meticulous management of the Adopt-A-Mile program, and the imaginative ways Shay inspires students through the Clean Campus Program.

2026 is sure to bring even more change in our lives. We have a choice. Will we meet it with fear, or will we seize the opportunity to make our world better?

2025 Governor’s Awards – Image Gallery

Please view the gallery on Flicker to see the following images in full resolution.

Message from AL DOT – Winter 2026

Message from John Cooper – Director, Alabama Dept. of Transportation

As we reflect on a successful 2025, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Alabama PALS and the countless volunteers who continue to make a meaningful difference across our state. Your dedication to keeping Alabama clean and beautiful strengthens our communities and enhances the experience of everyone who travels our roadways.

Through initiatives like the “Don’t Drop It On Alabama” Spring Cleanup, Coastal Cleanups and the PALS Adopt a Mile program, we are seeing firsthand what can be accomplished through strong partnerships and community involvement. These efforts not only reduce litter but also promote pride, stewardship and respect for Alabama’s natural resources.

At the Alabama Department of Transportation, we recognize that clean and well-maintained roads contribute to safer, more enjoyable travel. Alabama PALS plays a vital role in supporting this mission, and our partnership continues to be a powerful force for positive change statewide.

As we enter 2026, I encourage all Alabamians to remain committed to the PALS mission by being mindful of litter and taking an active role in caring for our state.

Message from our Clean Campus State Coordinator – Winter 2026

Message from Shay Grant – Clean Campus State Coordinator

Happy New Year! Now is the perfect time to incorporate cleanups or campus beautification projects into your school’s routine. If you’re looking for inspiration or guidance, I’m always happy to help—just reach out! And if I haven’t had the chance to visit your school yet, I would love to schedule an in-person presentation to share our litter-education message with your students.

Thank you to every school, teacher, and student who participates in the Clean Campus Program. Your commitment to litter prevention, environmental stewardship, creative projects, and community cleanups truly makes a difference. It takes all of us to keep Alabama the Beautiful!

Our annual poster and recycled art contests are wonderful ways to spark excitement about keeping Alabama clean. This year’s poster theme is “Litter Free – Way to Be!” Please begin with a school-level contest and forward only your top three posters for statewide judging in K-3 and in 4-6. Be sure to review the judging guidelines with your students as they plan their artwork and double-check that all required contact information is included on the back of each winning entry. All submissions are due to the PALS Office April 16, 2026.

The Recycled Art Contest for grades 7-12 has no specific theme, so let creativity shine! We welcome both 2-D and 3-D pieces made entirely from recycled materials aside from a small amount of necessary fastening supplies. As with the poster contest, please send only your school’s top three entries. Projects can be delivered in person or submitted digitally if the piece is too heavy or difficult to transport. If a digital entry is selected as a winner, the physical artwork must be delivered to the PALS office soon after notification. Please attach all required contact information to the artwork.
Entries are due to the PALS office April 16, 2025.

Winners, schools, and PALS county contacts will be notified by May 8, 2026. All winning students will be recognized and presented with their awards at the Annual Governor’s Awards Luncheon in November 2026.

If your school is not yet enrolled, it’s not too late! Visit www.alpals.org to join the Clean Campus Program. Enrollment is FREE for all Alabama schools thanks to the generosity of Coca-Cola, Vulcan, ALFA, and the Alabama Farmers Cooperative. If you have any questions about the program or our contests, please contact me at (334) 263-7737 or [email protected].

— Shay Grant

Message from our State Adopt-A-Mile Coordinator – Winter 2026

Message from Christy Waddell – State Adopt-A-Mile Coordinator

When you notice litter in our great state of Alabama, do you simply grumble about it, or do you stop and pick it up? We all want to live in a clean, beautiful, litter-free place.

Thankfully, many Alabamians are stepping up. They’re giving their time and energy to pick up trash—often
trash they didn’t create—because they care about keeping our home beautiful.

More than 900 miles across Alabama have already been adopted and are being cared for by generous,
dedicated volunteers. They’re not doing it for recognition or reward; they’re doing it because they want Alabama to shine.

And you can be one of those people. You can adopt a mile and help serve our great state through your own efforts. I encourage everyone to look for an area near you that you can adopt and make a positive impact.

— Christy