By: Ashley Arax for The Dirt
Picking up trash might seem like a small act, but for Davis Picks It Up, it’s the foundation for a successful community movement. DPIU is a grassroots volunteer group dedicated to keeping Davis streets, parks, and pathways clean. Now celebrating its four-year anniversary, DPIU has become a familiar presence around town—thanks to its signature yellow bags, friendly volunteers, and mission to promote a clean and safe environment.
It all began with longtime Davis resident Cathie Bullis, who noticed an increasing amount of litter on walks during the early days of the pandemic. She decided to take action. Armed with a trash picker and a bag, she began cleaning up her neighborhood. One day, a volunteer from Sacramento Picks It Up happened to see her, and their chance conversation inspired her to start a sister group. DPIU was born.
Now, with more than 600 members, the group has removed a remarkable 22 tons of trash from Davis streets, and counting. The litter itself tells stories—some funny, some strange. Among the weirder finds: a suitcase with a live lizard inside, rescued thanks to a biologist volunteering that day.
Volunteers work both independently and during group events, with many solo pickers taking care of neighborhood parks and walkways, allowing the group efforts to focus on hot-spots like the railroad tracks, Amtrak station, and downtown Davis. DPIU partners with other local groups to amplify its impact, and now collaborates with the City of Davis for trash pickup—volunteers can leave bags in designated locations for city crews to retrieve.
DPIU is also expanding its attention to schools. Bullis is working with Montgomery Elementary on a pilot cleanup event, with hopes of launching a broader schoolwide challenge that encourages students to take the lead on campus litter pickup and recycling education. The goal is to shift the culture from the ground up—empowering kids to care for their environment early.
“We went from the top down–parents to kids,” Bullis said. “Now we realize it is the kids we need to go to first. The kids just love it, they want to clean and want to do this.”
To get involved with DPIU and learn about upcoming cleanups, visit their Facebook page.
Make Davis Sparkle
DPIU plays a key role in Make Davis Sparkle, a quarterly cleanup sponsored by the Davis Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City. The next one is Sunday, April 13th (the day after Picnic Day) from 8-9:30a. Expect a community-wide effort with volunteers from businesses, residents, & city departments! Sign up to volunteer here.
