City of Philadelphia

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Community Partnership Program

How to organize an effective cleanup

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.

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.

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.

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.