About
The WV Make It Shine Program is a comprehensive program aimed at making WV the cleanest state in the nation. Throughout the state, groups of
volunteers, businesses, community organizations, and local governments are working to accomplish this goal. It is the responsibility of the
WV Make It Shine Program to coordinate the effort of these people to make our state shine.
Contact Us
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
REAP - Make It Shine Program
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
Phone: (304) 926-0499
Fax: (304) 926-0446
Email: depwvMIS@wv.gov
Contact REAP
Accepting Applications for the 2025 WV Make It Shine Spring Cleanup
When: April 1 through April 13, 2025
Registration Deadline: March 7, 2025
Applications are now available for the 2025 West Virginia Make It Shine Statewide
Cleanup. This annual event is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s
(WVDEP) REAP Program.
This year's event will be held during the first two weeks of April (April 1st through April 13th) and
applications are due by March 7th.
The Make It Shine program will provide resources such as cleanup materials, waste hauling, and landfill
fees to community groups volunteering to conduct litter cleanups in state streams or on public lands.
More than 2,900 volunteers from 126 groups participated in the 2024 cleanup, removing 159 tons of
litter, and collecting 1,368 tires from 79 acres of public lands and 39 miles of streams, while remediating
36 dumps.
How to Apply
The deadline for the 2025 WVMIS Spring Cleanup has passed.
For more information, contact Christopher.J.Cartwright@wv.gov or call
(304) 389-8389.
This event is completely dependent on volunteers, so sign up today and help make West Virginia shine!
Make It Shine Projects
The WV Make It Shine Program is involved in several events each year. The annual events are listed below.
WV Make It Shine Statewide Cleanup
The statewide cleanup is held during the first two weeks of April each year. During this time, volunteers can receive assistance in conducting cleanups on public lands.
The resources available include gloves, bags, hauling (in conjunction with the DOH), and landfill fees.
2025 Spring Cleanup
Applicants may apply online using the link below. Once your project is approved, REAP staff will coordinate delivery of cleanup supplies, waste hauling and disposal.
For more information, contact Chris Cartwright at DEPwvmis@wv.gov or by phone at 1-800-322-5530.
Applications for the 2025 Spring Cleanup (April 1 through 13) are now available. Applications are due March 7, 2025.
WV Make It Shine Earth Day Celebration
Each year, the Make It Shine Program sponsors an Earth Day celebration at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia, in Charleston. During this event,
school children are exposed to various displays regarding environmental protection, resource conservation, and energy efficiency. Many of these displays are "hands-on"
for the students.
Great Kanawha River Cleanup
The WV Make It Shine program sponsors the Great Kanawha River Cleanup. Volunteers can participate at sites in all counties bordering the Kanawha River from Gauley Bridge to Pt. Pleasant.
For more information about participating in the Great Kanawha River Cleanup, call 1-800-322-5530 or contact Chris Cartwright at
depwvMIS@wv.gov.
All locations are scheduled from 9:00-Noon. All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt for participating. This is a great opportunity to earn community service hours or just to show your support for your community. Please call 1-800-322-5530 to register your group. Your registration helps ensure that enough supplies are available at each site.
2023 Cleanup Results
Ohio River Sweep
The West Virginia Make It Shine Program is happy to be a co-sponsor of the largest cleanup of its kind in the United States. Historically, on the third Saturday of every June, this year communities along the Ohio River pitch in to clean the river and its banks of litter. For more information on participating in the Ohio River Sweep, call 1-800-322-5530.
WV Make It Shine 2023 Award Winners Announced
Each year, to encourage environmental stewardship throughout West Virginia, the WV Make It Shine Program sponsors its Clean County and Community Awards.
These awards recognize county solid waste authorities and municipalities for implementing REAP programs as well as other environmental initiatives.
Clean County Award
The Clean County award recipients receive a stipend provided by the program to fund current and future environmental projects within their county or
within other areas of the state as they see fit.
This year's WV Make It Shine Clean County Award winners were:
First Place
Greenbrier County Solid Waste Authority
Runner-Up
Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority
Community Award
The top Community award recipient receives a stipend to help fund environmental projects within their municipality as well as WV Make It Shine Community road signs designating them as such.
Other municipalities receiving recognition also receive WV Make It Shine Community road signs.
This year’s WV Make It Shine Community Award winners were:
Grand Prize
City of Williamstown
Honorable Mention
City of Belmont
WV Make It Shine Teacher of the Year Award
About
To promote environmental stewardship and education in West Virginia, the WV Department of Environmental Protection is proud to sponsor the Environmental Teacher of the Year Award. Winners will be chosen in the Elementary, Middle, and High School levels.
This award is given to educators that have gone above and beyond to promote environmental awareness and stewardship in their classrooms and communities. Each Teacher of the year receives a $500 personal award and a $1000 award to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education in their school. To nominate yourself or another, please submit an application packet.
2024 Recipients
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Tracy Arnold: Leading Creek Elementary School, Lewis County
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Cindy Booth: Kermit PK-8 School, Mingo County
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Melody Hubbard: Clay County High School, Clay County
Application and Related Documents
Note: The deadline to apply has been changed from February 14th to February 28th.
Contact Us
Annette Hoskins
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
Phone: (304) 926-0499 x49759
Toll Free: (800) 322-5530
Fax: (304) 957-0338
Email: Annette.L.Hoskins@wv.gov