Please stop in or call the Headlands Branch (440-257-2000) for registration & safety guidelines, park suggestions, litter hotspots that need attention and more details!

In partnership with the City of Mentor, the Mentor Public Library is encouraging residents to help “Keep America Beautiful” by assisting with cleaning up litter in our community. We appreciate your desire to beautify our town and thank you for your involvement in this important program. In consideration for your volunteer services, each participant will be entered to win a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card. Patrons can register once per day per volunteering of time spent collecting litter.  Each registration will count as a raffle ticket for winning the gift card.  While participating in this program, we ask that you exercise caution and adhere to the following guidelines:

1. When going out to collect litter, be mindful of your surroundings. Do not collect litter from roadways – if in a residential area, stay to the sidewalks or well within the confines of a safe space away from vehicles or anywhere vehicles could potentially be. Be sure to only collect litter from public spaces and do not enter onto private property if you do not have permission. If you are collecting in a public park, be mindful of your footing, and pay close attention to your surroundings so that you don’t disturb other park visitors or local wildlife.

2. Never collect litter with your bare hands, or, if you must, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water immediately after contact. If you encounter a plastic or glass bottle that looks like it still has liquid in it, be extremely cautious about picking it up, or just don’t pick it up at all. While it may just be water, juice, or pop, there have been instances where it was something else and it poses a health or safety risk. Like anything else in life, use caution and your best judgment when handling waste materials like this.

3. We have a limited supply of grabbers to use (these must be “checked out” at the registration desk and must be returned within a week, as they are property of the City of Mentor). If these are not available when you come in to register, we have a ready supply of gloves for use. All registrants will receive either garbage bags or plastic shopping bags for collecting litter.

By registering to participate I am agreeing to these Safety Guidelines and Waiver of Liability.  I, the undersigned, agree on behalf of myself and my heirs/next of kin/representatives, that I am strictly a volunteer and not entitled to any compensation or other benefits. By participating in this program, I agree that I expressly assume any and all risks associated with this activity. I hereby release from liability and hold harmless the Mentor Public Library, the City of Mentor, and their boards, representatives, agents, and/or employees for any injury, illness, loss, damage, or other harm sustained by me during the performance of activities for this program. I agree that this waiver of liability shall also apply to my child/ward participating in this program and I hereby sign this waiver on behalf of my child/ward, if applicable. I have read and understand the foregoing and sign this waiver of liability freely and voluntarily.