How to organize an effective cleanup
Step 1: Surveying
- Select realistic boundaries.
- List the location of trash, bulk items, tires, and graffiti. Determine how you want to remove them.
- List each lot, school, playground, recreation center, or street you want to clean.
- Estimate the people and supplies needed to remove the graffiti and trash.
- Take before and after photos to document the results of the cleanup.
Step 2: Schedule
- Choose a date. Most successful volunteer cleanups take place on Saturday mornings. Weather is always a factor, so have a rain date for your cleanup.
- Confirm your core organizers and assign different tasks.
- Identify resources for equipment. If you’re using the Community Partnership Program, allow time for application processing.
- Determine how and when you will pick up the materials and equipment.
Step 3: Volunteer recruitment
- Contact residents in the area and within a three-block radius.
- Use flyers, posters, social media, and word of mouth to advertise the cleanup.
- Try to include people from different backgrounds and age groups.
- Follow up with volunteers before the cleanup to help ensure their participation.
- Plan for some of your volunteers not to show up.
Step 4: Cleanup day
- Choose a central location for volunteers to pick up supplies and get assignments.
- Consider accessibility, toilets, and parking availability.
- Have volunteers fill out a sign-in sheet. Ask for each volunteer’s name, phone, address, and email.
- Select team captains and make them responsible for supplies and equipment. Do not leave supplies unattended.
- Provide each team captain with a list of assigned site locations and tasks.
- Things like coffee, juice, donuts, music, and lunch are welcome additions.
- Always consider vehicular traffic. Wear bright colors so oncoming traffic will see you.
- No horseplay, shoving, or pushing.
- Encourage courteous and positive behavior with other volunteers and local residents.
- Be sure to clean up all posters and flyers after the event.