OUACHITA PARISH, LA — Ouachita Green is celebrating an outstanding second quarter of 2026, thanks to the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, community organizations, businesses, schools, churches, and local government partners working together to keep Ouachita Parish clean, beautiful, and environmentally responsible.
From April through June 2026, community members participated in an impressive number of projects and events that made a visible difference throughout the parish:
- 15 educational events reaching 1,522 people
- 93 litter abatement, recycling, and beautification events
- More than 12,000 pounds of litter removed from Ouachita Parish
- 16 beautification projects completed
- More than 40 plants added to community landscapes
- 7 recycling events, resulting in more than 7,000 pounds of materials recycled
- 994 volunteers serving their communities through countless hours of volunteer work
Because some project data was not fully reported, these numbers may actually be higher.
A highlight of the quarter was the tremendous participation in Love the Boot Week, Louisiana's statewide cleanup and beautification initiative. Communities throughout Ouachita Parish rallied together to improve neighborhoods, parks, roadways, schools, and public spaces. The level of participation and community involvement was among the strongest ever seen in the parish.
The results demonstrate what can be accomplished when people unite around a shared goal. Every volunteer hour, every bag of litter removed, every flower planted, fire hydrant painted, and every educational opportunity provided contributes to a cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful community for everyone.
Adding to the celebration, all four Ouachita Green affiliates—Keep Ouachita Parish Beautiful, Keep Monroe Beautiful, Keep West Monroe Beautiful, and Keep Sterlington Beautiful—earned the highest possible rating on their quarterly Litter Index Report.
The Litter Index measures the cleanliness of roadways and public spaces within a community. Each affiliate selected a number of streets in each district, ranging from one-half mile to one mile in length, within its service area and evaluated litter levels using a four-point scale:
1 – Virtually No Litter: One to two small litter items per city block or its equivalent; generally neat and tidy.
2 – Slightly Littered: Small amounts of litter present; litter does not dominate the appearance of the area and requires minimal cleanup effort.
3 – Littered: Litter is frequently noticeable, requiring a considerable organized cleanup effort and potentially multiple hours of work.
4 – Extremely Littered: Continuous litter is present and often the first thing noticed. Areas may include illegal dumping sites and require equipment, multiple days of work, and large volunteer groups to restore.
All four affiliates received a rating of 1 – Virtually No Litter, the best score possible.
These scores reflect the pride residents take in their communities and the success of ongoing cleanup efforts, beautification projects, recycling programs, educational outreach, and partnerships throughout Ouachita Parish.
Ouachita Green extends its heartfelt thanks to every volunteer, sponsor, community partner, business, school, civic group, church, municipal leader, and resident who played a role in this success.