{"id":85464,"date":"2019-10-21T08:00:15","date_gmt":"2019-10-21T15:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=85464"},"modified":"2025-11-21T09:49:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T17:49:14","slug":"tips-for-hosting-your-own-cleanup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/stewardship\/tips-for-hosting-your-own-cleanup","title":{"rendered":"How to Host Your Own DIY Cleanup"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"><p>When REI closes its doors on Black Friday to #OptOutside, we\u2019re asking everyone to join us for a nationwide day of action, kicking off <a href=\"\/blog\/stewardship\/the-opt-to-act-plan\">a year of change<\/a>. We\u2019re hosting <a href=\"\/events\/94403\/optoutside-cleanups\">nationwide\u00a0cleanups<\/a>\u00a0leading up to and on Black Friday (Nov. 29) with partners like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lnt.org\/\">Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics<\/a> and <a href=\"\/b\/united-by-blue\">United By Blue<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re not able to make it or there\u2019s not one close to you, consider hosting a cleanup in your community in the coming weeks. The supplies needed are minimal, and the effort doesn\u2019t have to last all day. With a little planning, a DIY cleanup can be an enjoyable and effective way to leave the world better than you found it.<\/p>\n<p>We asked our partners at United by Blue and Leave No Trace to share their expert tips for hosting your own cleanup.<\/p>\n<h2>Before your cleanup<\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Pick a cleanup spot.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Find a local area that\u2019s in need of a cleanup. This could be a local park, creek, trail or your neighborhood block. Plan to stick to public spaces and sidewalks.<\/li>\n<li>Many natural areas have limitations on the number of people for an organized event, so run your plan past park or community officials. It\u2019s usually best to give them at least two weeks to grant permission\u2014and possibly issue a fee-based permit\u2014for your cleanup. In general, a small cleanup with fewer than 10 participants will be easier to get approved than something bigger.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Determine how to properly dispose of the trash and recycling that you find.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>If you\u2019re in a public park or trail network, this can be as easy as figuring out where the nearby public trash and recycling receptacles are located.<\/li>\n<li>If you\u2019re cleaning an area without public trash receptacles, contact your local disposal company to find out where drop-off points are in your area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Review your local recycling guidelines.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Each local government in the United States sets its own rules for what\u2019s recyclable and compostable. You can usually find it online. Earth911 also provides a location-based <a href=\"https:\/\/search.earth911.com\/\">recycling search tool<\/a> and the EPA also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/recycle\/how-do-i-recycle-common-recyclables\">has a guide<\/a> for how to recycle common items.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Gather your supplies.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Cleanups usually don\u2019t require much: some sturdy bags, work gloves and maybe some grabber tools if you can get them. Or you can pick up<a href=\"https:\/\/unitedbyblue.com\/products\/opt-to-act-diy-cleanup-kit\"> a custom cleanup kit<\/a>\u2014complete with a bag, gloves and Opt to Act bandana\u2014created by United by Blue and REI for $10.<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s never a bad idea to have a small <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/c\/first-aid-kits\">first-aid kit<\/a> on hand.<\/li>\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/c\/shirts\/f\/sl-long-sleeve\">long-sleeve shirt<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/c\/pants\">pants<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/c\/hiking-shoes\">sturdy, closed-toe shoes<\/a> are always recommended to help protect from any hazards.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t forget a reusable water bottle and snacks so you can stay hydrated and properly fueled.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Recruit a few friends and family members.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Cleanups are always more fun with a pal. Plus, you\u2019ll double your trash pick-up.<\/li>\n<li>Send a personal \u201csave the date\u201d email message at least a week before the cleanup day. A quick text message or follow-up email the night before the big day is also a good idea. Be sure to include the gathering time, end time and meeting location.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>During your cleanup<\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Stay safe.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Always\u200b wear cleanup gloves with the nitrile (plastic) side on your palm.<\/li>\n<li>Look before you grab trash\u2014pay attention to any sharp or unknown objects.<\/li>\n<li>Place sharp objects like glass shards in a solid container, like a glass jar, and dispose of them safely with your trash.<\/li>\n<li>If you come across hazardous materials like needles, check with your local hospital, municipality or county to find the best way to properly dispose of them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Document your progress and thank your crew.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Take before and after photos of your hard work, get some group shots and make sure to tag <a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.proofpoint.com\/v2\/url?u=https-3A__www.instagram.com_rei_-3Fhl-3Den&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=CqkB-gCiM4xW6iOknju0uA&amp;r=6k1doBiUK_AhYMPFWc845g&amp;m=hHvpmYOve0KuS_2F26uwfU5I4aHwIMlfQbgF0s6kAoQ&amp;s=R6abYs3Hqzje7IO2Z2MutqSkAfAWHuY-M__zhwTeq-A&amp;e=\">@REI<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.proofpoint.com\/v2\/url?u=https-3A__www.instagram.com_leavenotracecenter_-3Fhl-3Den&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=CqkB-gCiM4xW6iOknju0uA&amp;r=6k1doBiUK_AhYMPFWc845g&amp;m=hHvpmYOve0KuS_2F26uwfU5I4aHwIMlfQbgF0s6kAoQ&amp;s=cws-8Cx0XlAlcjEw4qvqE1wW3EBYgNiYRrhAeS85k98&amp;e=\">@LeaveNoTraceCenter<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/unitedbyblue\/?hl=en\">@unitedbyblue<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Show your crew how much you appreciate its efforts. Consider bringing donuts, burritos or maybe an omelet bar\u2014all manner of drinks and treats will surely be appreciated. (Before you decide to add any alcoholic beverages into the mix, find out if the natural area you\u2019re in allows them.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" \n  width=\"560\" \n  height=\"315\" \n  src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/jfXOZqw1OeQ\" \n  title=\"YouTube video player\" \n  frameborder=\"0\" \n  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" \n  referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" \n  allowfullscreen><br \/>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>After your cleanup<\/h2>\n<p>You have officially contributed to a nationwide cleanup movement. Be sure to celebrate your contribution to clean outdoor spaces and waterways, then keep the momentum going. If you\u2019re in need of some inspiration, we\u2019ve put together the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/stewardship\/the-opt-to-act-plan\">Opt to Act Plan<\/a>\u201452 simple weekly challenges for a year of action.<\/p>\n<span class=\"cb-button cb-black cb-normal cb-center\"><a href=\"\/events\/94403\/optoutside-cleanups\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow\">Find an REI #OptOutside Cleanup Near You<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" role=\"presentation\"><path d=\"M16 12a.997.997 0 0 0-.288-.702l-5.005-5.005a1 1 0 0 0-1.414 1.414L13.585 12 9.29 16.295a1 1 0 0 0 1.417 1.412l4.98-4.98A.997.997 0 0 0 16 12z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/span>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When REI closes its doors on Black Friday to #OptOutside, we\u2019re asking everyone to join us for a nationwide day of action, kicking off a year of change. We\u2019re hosting nationwide\u00a0cleanups\u00a0leading up to and on Black Friday (Nov. 29) with partners like\u00a0Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and United By Blue. If you\u2019re not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":91059,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[637],"tags":[1965,466,480],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-85464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stewardship","tag-opt-to-act","tag-optoutside","tag-stewardship"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/stewardship\/tips-for-hosting-your-own-cleanup","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"How to Host Your Own DIY Cleanup","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/stewardship\/tips-for-hosting-your-own-cleanup","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/stewardship\/tips-for-hosting-your-own-cleanup"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/10\/journalarticles_resize_ubbcleanups1.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/10\/journalarticles_resize_ubbcleanups1.jpg?fit=2000%2C1000"},"articleSection":"Stewardship","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["opt to act","optoutside","stewardship"],"dateCreated":"2019-10-21T15:00:15Z","datePublished":"2019-10-21T15:00:15Z","dateModified":"2025-11-21T17:49:14Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"How to Host Your Own DIY Cleanup\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/stewardship\\\/tips-for-hosting-your-own-cleanup\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/stewardship\\\/tips-for-hosting-your-own-cleanup\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/journalarticles_resize_ubbcleanups1.jpg?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/journalarticles_resize_ubbcleanups1.jpg?fit=2000%2C1000\"},\"articleSection\":\"Stewardship\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Michelle Flandreau\"}],\"creator\":[\"Michelle Flandreau\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"opt to act\",\"optoutside\",\"stewardship\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2019-10-21T15:00:15Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-10-21T15:00:15Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-21T17:49:14Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/10\/journalarticles_resize_ubbcleanups1.jpg?fit=2000%2C1000","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85464"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85464\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":201253,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85464\/revisions\/201253"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85464"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=85464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}