Cleanups

Volunteer cleanups

A cleanup is an organised effort to remove litter, waste, or debris from a specific area, usually to improve the environmental health, appearance, or safety of that space. Cleanups can happen in many settings, like beaches, parks, forests, rivers, streets, or even urban neighbourhoods.

They’re often volunteer-based, where community members gather to help, or event-style, meaning they happen on a specific day or as part of a campaign. They could also be “thematic”, such as

“coastal cleanups,”
“riverbank cleanups,”
“schoolyard cleanups.”

Cleanups can also be symbolic ways to raise awareness about pollution, plastic waste, or the climate crisis, while also creating a visible, local impact. In many parts of the world, cleanups are paired with education or data collection, so they contribute to broader environmental action.

In short, a cleanup is where people come together to take care of a place by picking up trash, and often, to connect with each other and the planet in the process.