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🧹 Community litter cleanup
An organized litter-picking action in a public space, along a stream bank, forest edge, or roadside ditch, to remove illegally dumped waste and prevent soil and water pollution.
When should you do this?
Early spring, right after the snow melts, is most dramatic, but it can be organized any time
What will you need?
- Thick, puncture-resistant gloves
- Trash bags (separate for plastic, glass, metal)
- A litter picker or tongs
- A high-visibility vest near busy roads
- Hand sanitizer
How to get started?
- Choose the area, and survey in advance how much litter there is.
- Report the action to the local council or waste management company, and arrange pickup afterward.
- Split participants into smaller groups and sections.
- Sort the litter on the spot: plastic, glass, metal, mixed, and hazardous waste into separate bags.
- Don't pick up hazardous or bulky waste (tires, paint cans) yourselves — mark and report it separately.
- Gather the full bags at an easily accessible pickup point.
- Weigh or estimate the amount collected, and document it with photos.
Useful tips
- Along a busy road, always wear a high-visibility vest and work facing the traffic.
- Don't work alone, and don't touch unknown chemicals.
Ready? Start a community litter cleanup project, or join one already running near you.