How to Recruit Volunteers and Organize for a Neighborhood Clean Up Day

Whether you live in an old neighborhood or out in the suburbs, sometimes things can get a little trashy . Maybe it's the litter that's been piling up in the street, or the tires and computers that have been dumped in the alleys. Perhaps it's the abandoned car sitting in someone's yard or the overgrown weeds in the vacant lot. It could even be the pile of lumber that's been sitting for the past 6 years in front of Mr. Smith's house.

No matter what kind of trash is in your neighborhood, the most effective way to get rid of it is by organizing a neighborhood clean up day.

How do we start?

Start by calling your city's Public Works Department. Many cities across the U.S. have neighborhood cleanup programs already in effect. In Boise, Idaho, the Public Works Department, in cooperation with Allied Waste, will provide a free 30 yard commercial dumpster for organized neighborhood clean up events. They will also arrange to have the dump fees waived for pre sorted hazardous waste, tires, and organic material collected during the clean up. Some municipalities will haul off all the waste your neighborhood has collected; others may ask you to deliver some it yourself. Before you can assemble your volunteers, it helps to know exactly how much waste your group could be hauling.

Next, find a location for the Neighborhood Clean Up Day activities. You'll need enough space to hold commercial dumpsters, recycling drums, a trailer for yard waste, and an area for hazardous waste. Since you'll have all sorts of vehicles entering the site, there needs to be enough room to park a dozen vehicles or so and have adequate turnaround space. Neighborhood schools and churches are ideal sites.

Once you have a day and a site chosen, you may wish to find a sponsor. Local restaurants or coffee shops may be willing to provide beverages and pastries for breakfast. A neighborhood business might even be willing to spring for a bunch of Clean Up Day tee-shirts with their logos on the back or bottled waters.