Green Team Individual Litter Clean Up Program
The Green Team is an individual volunteer program that focuses on empowering and encouraging individual City residents to pick up litter in their neighborhoods by providing them with a 'Clean Up Kit' and a mechanism for reporting their clean up activities.
How it Works
Green Team participants help to maintain litter-free neighborhoods and streets by picking up the litter and trash around their property, nearby streams, and waterways. This work helps to keep these items out of the street, alley or gutter, as they will eventually end up in the Potomac. Participants who register this will receive a Clean Up Kit with supplies to conduct litter pickups.
Green Team participants should pick up litter whenever they see it in their neighborhood area. Participants may contact the City using the Alex311 system if they find significant litter and debris or what they suspect may be illegal dumping in large quantities. Participants are encouraged to use the Green Team Reporting Form to share information on clean up efforts and experience.
Green Team FAQs
How do I start?
Complete the registration and waiver form available online and the City will contact you to schedule the Clean Up Kit pick up. There is a limited number of Clean Up Kits which are available at a first come, first served basis and limited to one per household. Paper copies of the registration and waiver form are available upon request.
How often do I need to pick up litter?
We encourage pickups no less than three (3) times per year and be reported to the City.
Where do I take the trash?
In the event, the volume of litter is greater than the capacity of a public trashcan and/or individual residential trashcan, the Participants shall coordinate directly with the City to ensure trash is picked up and disposed of by City staff. Please do not dispose of trash in a private trash can that is not yours.
How do I track my litter?
Residents are encouraged to use the Clean Swell®app (external link) to track the type of litter picked up. Clean Swell® is a trash collection mobile app launched by Ocean Conservancy.
Participants can also submit their cleanup data using the Green Team Reporting Form.
Is there a specific location to pick up litter?
Participants may pick up litter around their property or nearby streams and waterways to prevent items from streets, alleys, or gutters entering the Potomac.
Who can participate?
Any resident of the City of Alexandria is eligible to participate in the Green Team Program. Residents aged 17 or younger should have adult supervision. Discrimination based on race, religion, color, age, sexual orientation, or national origin is prohibited and the City will comply with local, state, and federal laws.
Is this program available for groups or homeowner/condo associations?
While Green Team focuses on individual litter cleanups, the City has many opportunities for groups and homeowner/condo associations to participate in cleanups. Sign up for eNews to learn about annual volunteer cleanups hosted by the City.