Media Alert: Detrash Portland - Celebrating Pride Together (Photo) -06/24/25

***Media Advisory – All Media Are Invited***

 

What: Detrash Portland, sponsored by Miller Nash

When: Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Where: 521 SW 11th Ave Portland, OR 97205 | Map Link

 

Event Description: Detrash Portland this June aligns with national Pride Month and leads into Portland’s local Pride celebrations in July. Join SOLVE for a community cleanup that uplifts inclusivity and helps make our city cleaner and more welcoming for all. We’re thrilled to welcome Miss Portland Gay Pride 2024, Nicole Onoscopi, to our downtown event.

 

Why: Portland's business districts are the heartbeat of our city and keeping them clean is vital to our economy and the environment. Litter poses a significant threat to our community's well-being, affecting the aesthetics and overall health of our streets, neighborhoods, and waterways. SOLVE's mission is to create opportunities for individuals and businesses to give back to their communities and play a critical role in maintaining the beauty and integrity of our city from the harmful effects of trash. Together, we can create a cleaner, more inviting downtown that reflects our pride in the city and care for our community.

 

Media Crews: Arrive by 8:45 am outside of the Stumptown on SW 11th to see approximately 100 volunteers of all ages checking in, collecting their cleanup supplies, receiving a safety speech and event overview, and then heading out in groups to pick up litter in the surrounding area. The event will run from 9 am to 11 am, with volunteers expected to spread throughout Downtown, SW Portland.

 

This event will have plenty of visuals of volunteers picking up litter, making for great community packages, VOs, and VOSOTS.

 

Available interviewees: 

• Kris Carico, Chief Executive Officer, SOLVE
• Nicole Onoscopi, Miss Portland Gay Pride 2024

Detrash Portland 2025 is presented by The Standard, Fred Meyer, CareOregon, Miller Nash, Swire Coca Cola, and Dunn Carney.

 

Visit the Detrash Portland page on the SOLVE website or the event registration page for more information.

 

*******

About SOLVE:

 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. You can follow SOLVE on Instagram at @SOLVEinOregon, Facebook at @SOLVEOregon, or at www.solveoregon.org. 

Press Release: SOLVE Launches Summer With SOLVE Campaign To Take Action And Preserve Outdoor Spaces (Photo) -06/17/25

Portland, Ore., June 17, 2025 – Summer is here, and with it comes more opportunities to enjoy the PNW’s beaches, parks, and rivers. However, the increased outdoor activity also leads to more litter and strain on the environment. To combat this, SOLVE is launching its Summer with SOLVE campaign, designed to take action, connect communities, and celebrate the beauty of our region through environmental action.

 

“Summer is a time to enjoy the outdoors, but it's also a time to ensure these spaces remain clean and sustainable for future generations,” said Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. “Together, we can create cleaner, more inviting spaces that reflect our pride in our region and our commitment to caring for the environment. By working together, we can make a significant impact and inspire others to join in the effort to protect our natural spaces that we love to enjoy, especially during summer.”

 

SOLVE kicked off summer with Pick It Up, Portland!, a citywide celebration on World Environment Day, June 5. The event focused on four different locations across Portland: Market Street Downtown, Holladay Park, Sellwood Riverfront Park, and Eastbank Esplanade. This was the first of many volunteer opportunities offered by SOLVE this summer, with more projects planned throughout the season, including the ongoing Waterway Cleanup Series, protecting the health of local rivers, streams and creeks.

 

What You’ll See This Summer

As outdoor recreation increases, SOLVE volunteers will:

• Remove litter from parks, neighborhoods, beaches, and riverbanks
• Maintain recreation sites and public green spaces
• Mulch around native trees and shrubs
• Remove invasive plant species that thrive in summer months like Japanese knotweed, Himalayan blackberry, and Scotch broom

Key Summer Events:

• Afterglow: Post-4th Cleanups (July 5-6): Volunteers will tackle the debris left behind from holiday celebrations to help restore outdoor spaces and shorelines.
• Willamette River Cleanup (August 9): A focused cleanup of the Willamette River, combating litter both on the water and along the riverbanks.
• Waterway Cleanup Series (ongoing through September): A series of cleanup efforts dedicated to preserving Oregon’s rivers and streams during the peak outdoor season.
• Monthly Detrash Portland Events: Community cleanups in Portland's business districts, focusing on revitalizing key areas in the city.

Looking ahead, SOLVE is also preparing for its annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup, September 20-28, part of the global International Coastal Cleanup, World Rivers Day and National Public Lands Day initiatives.

 

Join Summer with SOLVE

This summer, SOLVE invites you to take part in protecting and preserving the natural spaces that make our region special. Whether you're volunteering at a cleanup event, leading your own group, or taking on a DIY project, there’s a way for everyone to get involved.

 

Try the Trash Bag Challenge—pick up a bag of litter, then challenge friends or coworkers to do the same. Pass the bag, spread the impact, and inspire others to take action.

Every effort counts. Together, we can keep our neighborhoods, parks, and waterways clean and beautiful for generations to come.

For more information about Summer with SOLVE and how to get involved, visit solveoregon.org/seasons or follow us on social media.

 

About SOLVE 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information.