Volunteer Cleanup Program - DSNY

New York City Department of Sanitation


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Outreach & Events

Tabling & Presentations

Touch-a-Truck

E-Waste Collection

Volunteer Cleanup

Site Visits

Sanitation Materials


Volunteer Cleanup Program

We provide you with the tools and supplies needed to help you clean up the streets and sidewalks of your neighborhood.

We lend volunteers and community groups brooms, shovels, and rakes, and offer bags and gloves, so they can pick up the trash, debris, and recyclables littering their neighborhoods. When the event is over, we arrange for the bags to be collected.

If you would like to organize a cleanup event, you must submit your request no less than TWO WEEKS in advance.

Cleanup Locations

DSNY's Volunteer Cleanup Events are intended for public streets and sidewalks. This does not include parks and beaches. Tools MAY NOT be used to clean private property, including vacant lots, yards, or houses (occupied or abandoned).

Trash should be bagged and placed at an intersection or address on your cleanup route. We will coordinate with the district garage, so they know when and where your event is happening, and where the bags have been left for collection.

NOTE: If the pickup location changes, you must notify us by email immediately.

Tools and Equipment

It is your responsibility to pick up and return all borrowed tools. We offer one tool per volunteer. You will receive a tool loan confirmation email with the location and contact information.

Any damaged or missing equipment must be replaced by your group. Return replacement items along with the tools borrowed on your scheduled tool return date. Gloves and unused bags do not need to be returned.

It is not necessary to borrow tools from DSNY to receive trash collection for your cleanup.

Event Application

Download and fill out a Volunteer Cleanup Application (PDF) and email your completed application to customerservice@dsny.nyc.gov.

NOTE: We require at least TWO WEEKS' NOTICE to schedule a Volunteer Cleanup Event.