National CleanUp Day is held annually in the United States on the third Saturday of September. This year’s events will take place on September 19 and celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. The day promotes nationwide cleanup events and volunteering to keep the outdoors clean.
The inaugural National CleanUp Day was held in 2017 and had more than 225,000 volunteers. The following year saw over 1,500,000 volunteers, who collected 14 million pounds of waste. The idea for the day originated with Steve Jewett and his hiking partner, Bill Willoughby, who were both bothered by the litter found on their favorite trails. They began picking up trash during their hikes and brainstorming how to motivate others to have fun while cleaning trails. Eventually their idea led to the creation of the nonprofit organization Clean Trails, which combats litter and promotes environmental stewardship.
The organization asks the question, “What if everyone picked up just one piece of litter?” The answer is cleaner cities, trails, mountains, beaches, lakes, neighborhoods, and rivers. The road map to achieving this goal, according to Clean Trails, is to:
• Recycle.
• Litter less and pick up litter when you see it.
• Join or create an organized cleanup event.
The best way to participate in National CleanUp Day is by organizing your own cleanup or finding a local event. Visit the National CleanUp Day website for more information and resources. The following steps have been provided for those looking to organize their own cleanups:
1. Ensure it’s safe and permissible by local authorities.
2. Select an appropriate time and route for your cleanup:
a. Choose a time that allows for plenty of daylight and comfortable temperatures.
b. Choose a public location, such as a park, river, or beach, that’s ideally accessible by public transportation or bicycle.
3. Plan your cleanup:
• Determine the size of the crew needed to clean each area.
• Create a waiver using www.otterwaiver.com. This is an important step for liability and volunteer security.
• Determine transportation needs of crews.
• Ask for donations of trash bags, refreshments, & equipment.
• Use Facebook or Eventbrite to create an event, manage volunteer signup, and share event information.
4. During the cleanup, remember safety comes first:
• Two people make a team.
• Wear gloves and closed-toe shoes, and watch your footing.
• Bring a hat, sunscreen, and water.
• If something is too heavy, get help.
5. Protect the environment:
• Vegetation is sensitive.
• Wildlife is best kept wild. Don’t disturb nature.
6. Leave the following behind:
• Hazardous materials (Mark and notify the appropriate person.)
• Homeless encampments (Be nonconfrontational.)
• Dead animals
• Syringes, needles, or other medical waste
7. After the cleanup, make sure to wash your hands as soon as possible and disinfect all the reusable equipment that was used during your cleanup.
Publicize the success of the event on social media by posting before and after pictures of the cleanup. You can tag #NationalCleanUpDay2026
The inaugural National CleanUp Day was held in 2017 and had more than 225,000 volunteers. The following year saw over 1,500,000 volunteers, who collected 14 million pounds of waste. The idea for the day originated with Steve Jewett and his hiking partner, Bill Willoughby, who were both bothered by the litter found on their favorite trails. They began picking up trash during their hikes and brainstorming how to motivate others to have fun while cleaning trails. Eventually their idea led to the creation of the nonprofit organization Clean Trails, which combats litter and promotes environmental stewardship.
The organization asks the question, “What if everyone picked up just one piece of litter?” The answer is cleaner cities, trails, mountains, beaches, lakes, neighborhoods, and rivers. The road map to achieving this goal, according to Clean Trails, is to:
• Recycle.
• Litter less and pick up litter when you see it.
• Join or create an organized cleanup event.
The best way to participate in National CleanUp Day is by organizing your own cleanup or finding a local event. Visit the National CleanUp Day website for more information and resources. The following steps have been provided for those looking to organize their own cleanups:
1. Ensure it’s safe and permissible by local authorities.
2. Select an appropriate time and route for your cleanup:
a. Choose a time that allows for plenty of daylight and comfortable temperatures.
b. Choose a public location, such as a park, river, or beach, that’s ideally accessible by public transportation or bicycle.
3. Plan your cleanup:
• Determine the size of the crew needed to clean each area.
• Create a waiver using www.otterwaiver.com. This is an important step for liability and volunteer security.
• Determine transportation needs of crews.
• Ask for donations of trash bags, refreshments, & equipment.
• Use Facebook or Eventbrite to create an event, manage volunteer signup, and share event information.
4. During the cleanup, remember safety comes first:
• Two people make a team.
• Wear gloves and closed-toe shoes, and watch your footing.
• Bring a hat, sunscreen, and water.
• If something is too heavy, get help.
5. Protect the environment:
• Vegetation is sensitive.
• Wildlife is best kept wild. Don’t disturb nature.
6. Leave the following behind:
• Hazardous materials (Mark and notify the appropriate person.)
• Homeless encampments (Be nonconfrontational.)
• Dead animals
• Syringes, needles, or other medical waste
7. After the cleanup, make sure to wash your hands as soon as possible and disinfect all the reusable equipment that was used during your cleanup.
Publicize the success of the event on social media by posting before and after pictures of the cleanup. You can tag #NationalCleanUpDay2026
RSS Feed
