In efforts to curtail littering and improve recycling, Mayor Ras Baraka and Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.S. have established a branch of national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful in Newark.

Keep America Beautiful encourages behavior change through education, empowering communities toward environmental stewardship with volunteer programs, hands-on experiences, educational curricula, practical advice and other resources.

More than 600 community-based affiliates exist across the country, including Keep Jersey City Beautiful. Through their programs, vacant lots are improved, litter is reduced, trees and flowers are planted, and recycling and composting efforts are implemented.

“Clean, healthy, livable communities are the foundation for strong local economies — and all of the people of Newark deserve to live in such a community,” said Malkia King, founding executive director of Keep America Beautiful-Newark, in a statement.

Keep America Beautiful-Newark will participate in the Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest community improvement program, in April. The GAC focuses on community clean up, community greening, community education, and community recycling.

The organization will also be participating in America Recycles Day, a KAB national initiative that annually takes place in mid-November. It will also pursue grants from national partners to improve public space recycling, beautify open spaces, and create urban community gardens with fresh produce for Newark citizens.

Mars has worked with KAB for more than 60 years as a corporate partner.

“We are proud to have a strong legacy and future in Newark. More than 75 years ago, Mars opened its doors in Newark to create the first M&M’s as military rations. We are excited to come back to the community by opening a new market hub in 2020,” said Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.S. Workplace Strategy Director Alison Mulligan in a statement. “As part of our commitment to treat the communities where we live and work, Mars will join forces with [KAB] to further the revitalization of Newark for workers and residents alike.”

Mars Wrigley Confectionery announced in 2017 it would move its U.S. headquarters to Edison Properties’ Ironside Newark building, which is expected to open later this year.