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Hosting a neighborhood cleanup is a simple and effective way to protect DC’s rivers, parks, and communities. This guide explains how to prepare, gather supplies, keep volunteers safe, and coordinate trash pickup.
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Plan ahead: Visit your site, check safety conditions, gather supplies from Helping Hands or Clean City, invite volunteers, and schedule trash pickup through 311.
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Bring what you need: Use DOEE’s Cleanup Data Card, pack gloves and bags, and wear sturdy shoes, sun protection, and weather‑appropriate clothing.
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Stay safe: Use a first aid kit, avoid unseen or hazardous areas, leave large or stuck items in place, and respect personal belongings and encampments.
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Wrap up responsibly: Place bags at the agreed pickup spot with Helping Hands, confirm your 311 requestnumber, submit your data card results, and share your impact with your community.
Preparing for Your Cleanup
What to do ahead of your cleanup:
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Visit your cleanup site ahead of time to make sure it is appropriate for your group.
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Check that there is enough litter to make the cleanup worthwhile, that the area is safe to walk, and that there are no major hazards such as steep slopes, poison ivy, or heavy traffic.
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Invite neighbors, friends, family, schools, or community groups to join you.
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Arrange trash pick-up in advance with Helping Hands or determine where you will dispose of litter. Please don’t leave bagged litter in a public area.
What to Bring
Several DC agencies can provide supplies but you can also use supplies from home.
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The Office of the Clean City can provide trash bags, gloves, and limited tools with advance notice.
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The Department of Public Works Helping Hand Program offers tools; call 202‑645‑7190 for more information.
Remember, for a small group cleanup, most supplies can be gathered at home. All you need are gloves and a bag!
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Cleanup supplies include DOEE Cleanup Litter Data Cards, which help record the types and quantities of litter collected.
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Bring reusable gloves such as gardening or work gloves
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Heavy‑duty trash bags or a plastic bag from home if you’re completing a small cleanup, separate recycling bags.
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Optional tools such as litter grabbers or buckets for heavy or breakable items.
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Personal gear should include closed‑toe shoes, a reusable water bottle, sun protection, and weather‑appropriate clothing such as layers or rain gear.
Litter Data Card
Collect data during your cleanup using the District’s Litter Data Card.
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Print and bring the data card with you. Write down what you see! A quick tally helps us understand patterns across the District.
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Take a photo of your completed data card and submit it to [email protected], or fill out this form.
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Work in small teams of two or three and designate one person as the data tracker. They call out and record items while others collect.
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Short on time? Count a small sample of your litter (for example, 10–20% of what you collected) and multiply it to estimate your total. Even partial data helps us spot trends.
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If you’re an NGO or community group interested in tracking litter data to align with the District’srequirements, please reach out to [email protected].
Safety Guidelines
During your cleanup, stay aware of your surroundings.
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Be alert near roads, trails, and parking lots.
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Watch for cyclists and pedestrians.
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Avoid reaching into areas you cannot see, such as bushes, storm drains, or piles of debris.
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Do not attempt to remove items that are stuck, embedded, or tangled.
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Leave large or hazardous items and submit a 311 request.
Bring basic safety supplies such as:
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A first aid kit
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Tecnu or a similar product for poison ivy exposure
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An emergency contact list for local park services, non‑emergency police, and medical assistance
If you encounter tents, shelters, or personal belongings, do not disturb the area or attempt to clean around it. These items are not considered litter. If needed, notify local outreach services at 311.
After the Cleanup
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Place all trash and recycling bags at the agreed‑upon pickup location.
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Confirm your 311 service request number.
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Submit your DOEE Data Card results if you collected data. Share photos or updates with your community and celebrate your impact.