Keep Coral Gables Beautiful

Mission

To promote environmental sustainability and educate the community to take action every day to reduce litter from our open spaces & waterways, improve recycling efforts, and keep our City Beautiful.

KCGB was established in July 2020 and through this program, the City conducts a variety of events including downtown community cleanups, beautification events, educational opportunities, invasive plant removals, and more. Learn about upcoming events and how to get involved!

Programs and Upcoming Events

The Water Below Us

A woman stands under a sky blue sculpture as the sun sets

In honor of World Water Day, BLUE Missions has collaborated with the City of Coral Gables to introduce a new public art installation, The Water Below Us, at Giralda Plaza. This installation utilizes augmented reality to raise awareness of the potential threats to our local water supply in South Florida. Visitors to the art installation will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a virtual Everglades-inspired ecosystem and capture unique photos. This innovative installation, designed to be visually engaging and informative, will be open to the public until May 2024. 

A ceremonial ribbon cutting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, and will be officiated by the City of Coral Gables Mayor, Commissioners, and representatives from BLUE Missions. Following the ceremony, guests are invited to happy hour at Cebada Rooftop at 6:30 p.m. Click here to RSVP to the ribbon cutting. 


Sustainability Village

Produce and food products for sale at farmers market

Visit the popup Sustainability Village on March 30 from 10 a.m. to noon to learn about recycling, sustainable transportation, conservation and more. The city’s sustainability team will host several educational booths that will explore the various initiatives in our community and beyond. Your participation in these events will not only amplify your understanding of sustainable practices but also contributes to the collective efforts aimed at fostering a more sustainable and resilient City Beautiful for current and future generations.

Learn more about the city's Farmers Market.


Downtown Community Cleanup Spring Edition

Spring into action on Monday, Apr. 1, starting at 5 p.m. at the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. Get involved in your community this Earth Month and help us keep our City Beautiful. Presented by Keep Coral Gables Beautiful and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. After the event, join us for light bites and refreshments at Sweetgreen, courtesy of Baptist Health South Florida. There will be a demonstration of The Water Below Us interactive art installation on Giralda Plaza after the cleanup.

Volunteer hours available upon request. Register here.


graphic of humans running and picking up trash

Come and join KCGB during the 2024 Great American Cleanup at Matheson Hammock Park on Saturday, Apr. 6, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. During this event, volunteers will be "plogging" throughout the mangrove trails, removing any litter and preventing it from re-entering the ocean.

Plogging is a combination of jogging and plocka upp, Swedish for “to pick up.” Plogging entails jogging and picking up trash while you go. This event is at your own pace, whether that is walking, jogging, or running.

Please bring a reusable water bottle, hat, and sunblock. A water cooler will be available at the site for refills.

Volunteer hours are available upon request. Register here.


Pinewood Cemetery Invasive Plant Removal

Pinewood Cemetery Cleanup

During this upcoming teacher planning day, join us on Wednesday, Apr. 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the entrance of the Pinewood Cemetery located at 7301 Erwin Road, and earn volunteer hours. Volunteers will remove invasive plants found throughout this historic cemetery during this event. 

Parking is VERY limited. Carpooling, ridesharing, public transport, or walking is HIGHLY recommended.

There is a bus stop at the corner of the cemetery entrance: Bus #37 leaving from South Miami Metro Station to SW 72nd & SW 47th Ave

KCGB will provide supplies. Please bring a reusable water bottle, hat, and sunblock. Wearing long sleeves and pants is strongly advised as some plants may cause skin irritation. A water cooler will be available at the site for water refills. Volunteer hours are available upon request. 

Register for the Pinewood Invasive Plant Removal Event 


Baynanza 

Surrounded by trees and branches, kayaks sit by the beach next to the ocean water

Join Keep Coral Gables Beautiful and the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management to celebrate the 42nd year of Baynanza on Saturday, Apr. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at Chapman Field Park, Matheson Hammock Park, and R. Hardy Matheson Preserve at Bella Vista Point (for Gables by the Sea residents).

Volunteer hours available upon request. Register here


Bi-Annual Recycling Drive-Thru Event graphic

Keep Coral Gables Beautiful will host the resident-exclusive bi-annual Recycling Drive-Thru Event on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to noon at the parking lot behind City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way.

Click here for more information on accepted/prohibited materials and more.

The Commercial Beautification Awards serve to recognize those businesses that have gone above and beyond in the beautification and maintenance of their storefronts and surrounding areas. To learn more about business and commercial property owners’ maintenance responsibilities, click here.

Nominations for the 2024 Commercial Beautification Awards will be accepted beginning March 1 through April 30.

KCGB Commercial Beautification Awards Nomination Criteria [PDF]

Nominate a Coral Gables Business 

Keep Coral Gables Beautiful has launched a new year-round Battery Recycling Pilot Program. This program aligns with the city’s goal of reducing waste that ends up in landfills and building a more resilient and sustainable City Beautiful. Since its launch in July 2021, over 2,981 pounds of batteries have been collected and recycled. Learn more about accepted batteries.

Battery recycling bins have been placed in the following locations:

  • Development Services Center: 427 Biltmore Way
  • City Hall: 405 Biltmore Way
  • Police and Fire Headquarters: 2151 Salzedo St.
  • War Memorial Youth Center: 405 University Drive
  • Public Works Department: 2800 SW 72nd Ave.
  • Adult Activity Center: 2 Andalusia Ave.
Battery recycling bin full of batteries

Keep Coral Gables Beautiful offered litter kits for individuals and small groups looking to host recurring solo cleanups in Coral Gables. Each litter kit had everything needed to host solo cleanup events. The litter kit included a collapsible litter picker, a safety vest, a pair of reusable gloves, biodegradable trash bags, a handheld weight scale, a large reusable bag for recyclables and/or storing filled trash bags, and a container to collect cigarette butts. Litter Kits were made possible through a Keep America Beautiful grant program. Kit recipients are asked to complete a post-cleanup report for data collection. Volunteer hours are provided upon request.

Litter kit

Keep Coral Gables Beautiful Information

Keep Coral Gables Beautiful is a local affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful and Keep Florida Beautiful organizations. 

Newsletter

Want to stay notified of upcoming Keep Coral Gables Beautiful events? Join our newsletter.

Business/Group Cleanups

Whether you are a business looking for team-building opportunities or a group of friends wanting to give back to the community, we will help you coordinate a cleanup event. Complete and submit the KCGB Business/Group Event Request Form to get started.

Co-Executive Directors: Solanch Lopez and Matthew Anderson

Phone: 305-569-1835 | 305-460-5008

Staff

Diego J Cancel - Sustainability and Resiliency Supervisor

Phone: 305-460-5547

Nicole Gautney - Sustainability Coordinator

Phone: 305-619-4258

EMAIL:  KCGB@coralgables.com

ADDRESS: 204 Minorca Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33134

More Initiatives and Past Events

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Reverse Vending Machine Rewards Incentive Program

Thank you to the 715 people who participated in our Reverse Vending Machine Pilot Program. With your help, we were able to collect 18,258 containers in one year; that equals 1,035 pounds of beverage containers recycled! This program was made possible through the Florida Beverage Association Community Grant and Cycle.

We are grateful for all six of our local Coral Gables business partners who rewarded the top ten highest recyclers for each bi-monthly contest period. Coral Gables Art CinemaAmigo GrillManKind Grooming & ServicesWell Groomed GentlemanJust Salad and Mint Wellness.

Click here to learn more about recycling in Coral Gables and check in often to learn about our new recycling programs coming in 2024.

Graphic with photos of children using the Reverse Vending Machine and text reading "18,258 Containers Recycled"

Air Potato Patrol

Air potatoes in South Florida are an invasive and noxious weed. To remove, pull them out from the bulb and detach from the vine. Place them in a plastic bag as they can continue to grow if left on the ground. How to spot and remove air potatoes.

Commissioner Anderson's Removal Campaign 

In an effort to build awareness, Commissioner Anderson is giving out a $10 dollar Books & Books gift card for anyone that  brings in one pound of air potatoes. You can bring them to City Hall to her office or at a city event. Events the Air Potato Patrol will be attending will be posted here. 

Downtown Community Cleanup – End of Summer Edition 2023

Downtown Community Cleanup – End of Summer Edition 2023

Keep Coral Gables Beautiful held it's End of Summer Downtown Community Cleanup on Aug. 31. Fifty-seven volunteers collected 369 pounds of litter from the downtown area, setting a new record for litter collected and our biggest turn-out to date. The Most Pounds Collected Contest provided several team winners with Books & Books gift cards, Venetian Pool tickets and a VIP Clutch Burger Card. A special thank you to the Chamber of Commerce, Clutch Burger, and Baptist Health South Florida.

Group photo of participants at the Downtown Community Cleanup

Pinewood Cemetery Invasive Plant Removal 2023

Volunteers standing together with pinewoods behind and over them

On Friday, Aug. 4, 40 volunteers helped remove more than 7,500 pounds of invasive oyster plants from the Pinewood Cemetery. Volunteers did a fantastic job completing this collection in under two hours. Thank you to the Pinewood Cemetery Advisory Board and the Greenspace Management team for making this event possible! Also, a special thank you to Ranger Ready Repellent for their donation of 500 3.4-ounce insect repellent sprays that were given to everyone who attended the event.

Orange Ranger Ready text inside an orange badge

Plogging at Matheson 2023

Keep Coral Gables Beautiful wants to thank everyone who participated in the Great American Cleanup season kickoff event, "Plogging at Matheson," on April 1, 2023. Participants collected a total of 56 pounds of waste, all while enjoying the spring weather and helping the environment.

Volunteers stand in front of the bay, a green tree and blue sky are in the background

 

Dual North America - Global Giving Week

Dual North America - Global Giving Week

Companies are encouraged to participate in organizing community cleanups in partnership with Keep Coral Gables Beautiful. Recently, Dual North America took to Old Cutler Road as part of their Global Giving Week. The Dual team collected 50 pounds of litter in one hour helping to keep our City clean and beautiful.

Dual Team on Old Cutler

Environmental Film Screening & Panel Discussion

Environmental Film Screening & Panel Discussion

In celebration of Earth Month in Coral Gables, KCGB hosted a screening of “The Biggest Little Farm” on April 5 at the Coral Gables Art Cinema. This documentary is a breathtaking chronicle of one family’s dream to harvest in harmony with nature.

Following the movie, a panel discussion on sustainability was held as part of the national Science on Screen initiative. The panel was moderated by Commissioner Rhonda Anderson with panelist Matthew Anderson – City of Coral Gables Resiliency and Sustainability Manager, Teddy Lhoutellier – University of Miami Sustainability Director, and Irela Bague – Miami Dade County Chief Bay Officer.

The screening of this film was sponsored by Commissioner Rhonda Anderson and coordinated through Keep Coral Gables Beautiful and the Coral Gables Sustainability Advisory Board.

*An initiative of the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE, with major support from the ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION.

Biggest Little Farm Panel