The city of Tacoma is stepping up its cleanup efforts for the summer, with leaders announcing a renewed push to keep trash from piling up on local streets. The campaign comes as cities around Puget Sound prepare for a busy season and for the large crowds expected in the region. Even though Tacoma itself will not host any game action during the upcoming tournament, officials say big crowds are anticipated nonetheless, and they want the city looking its best as more visitors arrive.
At the center of the effort is a machine that locals have nicknamed the Grit City Gobbler. In about an hour, the vehicle can pick up hundreds of pounds of trash on its own, clearing litter far faster than crews could manage by hand. Residents can expect to see the Gobbler, along with cleanup workers, moving through neighborhoods across the community throughout the summer months as part of the wider campaign.
For people who live in Tacoma, the problem is hard to miss. Casey Reese, who calls the city home, says she does her best to keep her own block tidy, but that litter has become a constant sight. She describes piles of garbage scattered around, everything from discarded cups to full sets of clothes and all kinds of other items, and she says the situation is genuinely sad to watch unfold in a place she cares about.
Reese also says the decline has been gradual rather than sudden. She still loves Tacoma, but in her view the city has been getting slowly worse over roughly the last eight years. Her frustration reflects a wider concern among residents who care about how their hometown looks and who would like to see it cleaned up, especially before the busiest stretch of the year gets underway.
The scale of the challenge is striking. City officials say that over about the last two years, crews have removed roughly 7 million pounds of trash from Tacoma's streets. To put that figure in perspective, that amount is about the same as the weight of 600 orcas, and officials acknowledge that there is still plenty more left to collect despite all the work already done.
The timing is tied to a packed calendar ahead. Tacoma is preparing for visitors from around the world connected to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as a summer filled with parties, graduation events, parades and other gatherings. City crews are already collecting thousands of pounds of litter every day, and officials note that even 500 pounds of trash turns out to be a surprising amount once it is gathered together in one place.
To help, the city is rolling out several new tools for residents. Officials are offering dashboards with litter collection information, providing cleanup supplies to volunteers, and even offering free graffiti removal for private properties. Leaders are hoping the community will pitch in to lighten the load this summer, stressing that keeping the city clean will take everyone participating, not only the crews who are already out on the streets each day.