Partner With The Great Global Cleanup®

Follow our simple guide to make the most out of your cleanup. If you need any help, reach out to us at [email protected].

Organize a planning group

• Decide who will be organizing the cleanup. Whether it is your friends, your organization, or just you!
• Invite members from local government, civic organizations, clubs, homeowner associations, churches and media to serve on a cleanup planning committee. Having a diverse coalition can help the event run well. 
• Appoint site captains who will manage the event and designate roles to assure cleanup goes smoothly.

Select an appropriate site, date, and time

• Choose a public location: a park, a river, or a similar community site that is ideally accessible by public transportation or bicycle. Also check to see if you need any necessary local permissions
• Select a date.
  • TIP: Earth Day is on April 22nd and World Cleanup Day is on the Third Saturday in September
• Select a Time: Depending on where you are, choose a time that allows for plenty of daylight and comfortable temperatures for volunteers. Most cleanups happen between 9:00am and 11:00am.

Gather volunteers

• Register your cleanup so it appears on the Great Global Cleanup Map and is connected to our global network of volunteers
• Advertise your cleanup to your organization, family, friends, and/or community members
  • TIP: people from different organizations and associations can help turn out volunteers and bridge community members through the cleanup; i.e.: A reverend asking their ministry)
• Use Facebook or Eventbrite to create the event and manage volunteer sign up, and share event information.
• Download the GGC Partner toolkit to check out other social media resources

Line up supplies, and arrange for disposal

• Ask for donations of trash bags, refreshments, and equipment.
• TIP: Local hardware stores are usually willing to donate these resources
• Coordinate with local waste management through a short phone call to ensure everything is being disposed of in accordance with rules and regulations.
• Be sure that contributors get credit for their donations in cleanup promotions
• Gather supplies
• Important Items To Have:
• Trash Bags or Buckets
• Trash Grabbers 
• First Aid Kit 
• Gloves and Hand Sanitizer 
• Water/ Snacks
• Table and chairs (we recommend two tables, one 6’ and the other 4’)
• Event Signage
• Download and print this QR code to have the attendees sign the Global Plastic Treaty petition

Start Your Cleanup Day

• Closer to the date, check the weather and plan to dress appropriately. Wear something you don’t mind getting dirty! 
• Send a reminder the night before or day of to all participants and key individuals that you hope to attend. 
• Invite local media outlets to cover the event and spread awareness 
• As a leader, arrive to the event early to set up before volunteers arrive

Orientation and safety talk

• Safety is key. Two people make a team! Wear gloves, and closed toe shoes. Bring a hat, sunscreen & reusable water bottle
• Keep the environment safe
• Vegetation is sensitive and wildlife is best kept wild
• What to remove:
• Trash and Litter (Anything created by humans)
• Recyclables
• What to leave:
• Nature
• Homeless Encampments
• Dead Animals
• Syringes, needles, and other hazardous materials.

Dispose of the waste

• Find a location to properly dispose of all of the waste you will clean up! 
• Sort the waste into trash, recyclables, and hazardous waste.
• If you are unsure of where to dispose of any of this waste contact your local municipality’s waste department for further instruction

At the end of the Cleanup

• Record your cleanup here
• Take pictures before and after your collection and share to twitter and instagram. Use handles #GreatGlobalCleanup, #TrashTag, and #Plogging
• Post your event on social media. Tag us at @thegreatglobalcleanup on Instagram and TikTok.
• Share your images with local newspapers, magazines, and EARTHDAY.ORG
• Write thank you emails to any cooperating government officials, businesses, and organizations.

A partnership with The Great Global Cleanup means you will be involved year round in the work our organization does.

This will mean a partnership with our activities for World Cleanup Day and engagement with partners such as Let’s Do It World, National CleanUp Day, and Keep America Beautiful. Join our coalition of like-minded organizations and individuals committed to achieving our mutual goals of protecting our environment through community outreach and networking.