Assemble a team. Gather your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and co-workers to join the cleanup effort. Encourage them to reach out to their own social circles to expand your base. Invite local institutions and community groups to organize and turn out their members.
Partner with community organizations. Groups experienced in conducting cleanups may be helpful organizing partners and can help make the first clean up easier. Try to engage local environmental and conservation groups in your community cleanup. You can also talk to local businesses near the area you want to clean up!
Pick a cleanup site. Determine a site in need of maintenance. Most publicly accessible areas will incur litter that you can help eliminate, but also keep in mind other goals including awareness of pedestrian safety issues or lack of sidewalks that can be a secondary goal of the clean up.Remember that you may need to obtain a permit or get permission to host your event (check with the appropriate landowner or City agency to be sure).
Gather your materials. Standard cleanup materials can be found in almost any supermarket. You will likely need: Gloves Safety Vests Trash Pickers Trash Bags Folding tables (if none are available) Vehicle or to carry the trash from the clean up to a dumpster/recycling area Access to a dumpster/recycling area Sunscreen Snacks Water to refill individual water bottles Incentives for volunteers (gift card raffle to a local business etc..)
Share the event information. After setting the date, time, and location for your community cleanup, let people know! Talk to your neighbors, distribute fliers, make an online page promoting the event using whatever social media, Next Door, or other resources you have available. You can also put up posters of the cleanup around the neighborhood as well as inform other community newsletters of the event.
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME PICKING UP WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS!!
