Although Missouri is a landlocked state, it has multiple waterways that eventually make their way to the ocean, meaning waste and litter left on Zoo grounds doesn’t just stay local – it can be carried by floodwaters or storm sewers into streams and rivers, traveling far distances. Trash that ends up in waterways pollutes the soil, contaminates the water, and endangers wildlife.
In an effort to remove litter from the landscape and to care for the Blue River, which travels through Zoo grounds, the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium is proud to support public clean-up events each year. Litter originating in Kansas City can travel over one thousand miles through our waterways and end up in our oceans miles aways.
Additionally, we conduct staff clean-up events removing debris from the Shirling Sanctuary, a small protected old -growth riparian forest named after Dr. Albert E. Shirling. This protected area is not open to the public but maintained by KC Wildlands and KC Zoo staff.
Since we began collecting data in 2019, KC Zoo staff and volunteers have removed 14, 961 pounds of litter from the Blue River area, that's more than an elephant can weigh!
Check-out the Zoo's Facebook and e-communications for our next clean-up opportunity!
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