Got trash? There’s more than a few skaters to take care of that!

DU students and Denver community members alike took advantage of a gorgeous Sunday at Denver’s Platt Park on May 28 to clean up trash, meet new people and promote sustainability.

The event was part of the global SkateTheWorld2030 project, an initiative that aims to mobilize citizens throughout the world to take care of their well-being, eat healthy, locally-sourced and organic foods, diminish humanity’s carbon footprint, end the climate crisis and restore the planet.

In partnership with DU’s Center for Sustainability and the Daniels College of Business, the project is one of many being advanced by Get Related Innovation, LLC.

“SkateTheWorld2030 is inside a bigger project,” says Yarden Zinger, DU student and organizer of the event. “Right now we’re working on a project where we’ve found a way to solve many of the global issues,” he added.

Also an intern and the Youth Co-Executive Director with the initiative, Zinger spoke to the inclusive, collaborative and community-based drive behind SkateTheWorld2030. “The real intention of SkateTheWorld is to get everyday people…to have the skateboarders bring the communities together.”

The event on Sunday followed an earlier clean-up on DU’s campus on Friday, May 26, which culminated in conversations with vendors at the DUPB Farmer’s Market on the campus green. Sunday’s clean-up ended in a similar fashion, where the skaters spoke with vendors at a Denver community farmer’s market.

Why skateboards? “When you’re skateboarding, you’re not…on your phone, you’re just connected to your board, and the people around you and the nature,” said Zinger, citing the project’s co-executive Director, Gail Davis-Carter. “When you’re doing that, you’re connected to your own well-being and you’re also helping the planet, you’re not using CO2.”

If your neighborhood, campus or park begins to look a little more spotless, you may have a skateboarder with a trash bag to thank.