Ideas to Expand Your Community Clean Up Day and Attract More Participants to Lend a Helping Hand 

Spring is here, and it’s time to plan your community clean-up day. This annual event brings people together to clean up debris, remove graffiti, collect expired or no longer usable items, and improve the overall environment of a community. 

Set some goals

• Encourage clean-ups throughout the warmer months 
• Galvanize the practices of recycling and re-use where possible 
• Increase the number of events and participants 
• Promote personal responsibility for litter 
• Heighten awareness of litter and waste issues 

Reach out to your residents, businesses, civic and religious organizations for participation. Create a contest, take photos, and make it fun for all ages. Prioritize what areas need cleaning, assign tasks and of course, hand out trash bags. 

Consider Including the Following

• Reuse Items: Include a collection area for household electronics and appliances. 
• Textile Collection: set up a station to collect textiles and include carpeting. 
• Old Prescriptions: collaborate with local drug stores and the Police Department to collect unused and unwanted prescriptions. 
• Mattress Pickup: team up with your trash and recycling vendor to collect old mattresses. 
• Invasive Plants: include removing invasive plants from riverbeds, parks and playgrounds.  

Many communities struggle with litter and neglected public spaces. Expanding this annual event offers residents and businesses a chance to make a meaningful impact in many ways: 

• Community Pride: A clean environment fosters pride and ownership, creating a welcoming atmosphere. 
• Public Health: Tidiness reduces disease risks and promotes better air and water quality. 
• Economic Benefits: A well-kept community attracts residents, visitors, and businesses, boosting property values and tourism. 
• Social Responsibility: Maintaining cleanliness shows a commitment to the environment and enhances quality of life. 
• Environmental Impact: Cleanups reduce pollution and preserve resources, supporting local wildlife.