HOW TO ORGANIZE A TRASH CLEANUP
STEP ONE: THE ORGANIZING TEAM
THE ORGANIZING TEAM should meet a few weeks before the Trash Clean Up Day to form a plan.
Here are suggestions for the team:
EVENT COORDINATOR
This person is responsible for organizing the event, choosing the day and time, getting the permits, and coordinating the removal of all the trash collected. [See sample letters]
PROMOTION
This person will promote the upcoming event. Design/create flyers and social media posts, reach out to local schools, churches, and community groups. Make contacts early and find out how you can get into newsletters and on bulletin boards. Make contact with a photographer who will take pictures during the event. Make contact with local radio stations and record spots promoting the event. Most of your advertising should happen the week before the event. [See sample letters] Use these same contacts to post photos and an account of the event after it happens. Show everyone what happened.
SUPPLY
COORDINATOR
This person is responsible for making sure Gloves, trashbags, grabbers, maybe even bottled water and snacks, are available. Consider also having a first aid kit on hand, just in case. If the event is on a roadside consider orange vests or traffic cones. The Supply Coordinator should contact local businesses for donations of supplies [See sample request letter]
CELEBRATION
ORGANIZER
This person is responsible for planning a small celebration to mark the success of the trash-clean-up event -- immediately after the event. Have words prepared to thank all the people who have donated and volunteered. Consider finding a live musician to play a short set. The celebration organizer is one of the last to leave at the end of the event, so they must make sure nothing from the event is left behind.
STEP TWO: TRASH CLEAN UP DAY!
WHAT’S YOUR JOB?
The Trash Clean Up event will go smoothly when people
are assigned specific jobs.
GREETER
Greet the volunteers as they arrive. Offer safety guidelines. Distribute gloves, bags, and information to volunteers. Stragglers will come late, so stay in place. Encourage people to stay to the end.
PICKER-UPPERS
These volunteers pick up trash and bag it.
RECYCLING
SORTERS
These volunteers only pick up recyclables or sort materials from other trash in separate bags or bins.
SAFETY MONITORS
These volunteers are responsible for keeping an eye out for any hazards or potential dangers during the litter clean-up event, such as traffic. They hold the first aid kit.
PHOTOGRAPHER
This person is responsible for to documenting before and after shots, people picking up litter, the bagged accumulation of trash, people celebrating after. Co-ordinate with Marketing person about posting photos after.
CELEBRATION
ORGANIZER
This person coordinates the celebration immediately after the clean up. This person will say a few words to mark the success of the event. They make sure the refreshments are available. They coordinate with the live musician. They coordinate with the waste disposal folks to process the disposal of all the trash collected.
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS!
- Set up the organizing committee as early as possible with clear goals and expectations for each person
- Use multiple methods of publicity to ensure the event is well-attended
- Recruit more volunteers than you think you need
- Provide clear direction and support to volunteers throughout the event
- Make sure the location is safe and accessible
- Have very clear start and stop times
- HAVE FUN!!!