Laboratory employees load up community litter

More than 100 Los Alamos National Laboratory employees cleaned up litter in the surrounding communities — including two locations in Santa Fe and one in White Rock — to celebrate Earth Day this year.

The event was part of the Lab’s annual Great Garbage Grab, during which employees removed plastic bottles, food containers and other trash from the area, alleviating problems it could pose for wildlife, waterways and the ecosystem.

Employees filled 138 trash bags, with cleanups taking place outside the Lab’s Pacheco and Guadalupe office buildings in Santa Fe, near its facility in White Rock, and around other areas at the Laboratory.

Growing the Garbage Grab

Now, event organizer Paige Clark is working to encourage similar events — not just on Earth Day, but throughout the year — whenever a group of Lab volunteers has the time.

“When I started the Garbage Grab, I saw what a big impact a small group of people can have,” Clark said. “It was great seeing people from different divisions within the Laboratory come together and have such a positive impact on the environment.”

More stories from Los Alamos National Laboratory:

Is terraforming Mars possible? A new paper looks at the science

How the Lab helped bring hydrogen power to Northern New Mexico

Meet some of the Los Alamos physicists who play a key role in keeping America safe

Photos reveal life at the Lab during the Manhattan Project

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