Best Practices

Cleanups

Every municipal and county Clean Communities Program must incorporate a litter cleanup element into their program. This program may contain one or more of the following types of cleanup events:

  1. “Adopt-a-” Program (Adopt-a-Road, Adopt-a-Park, Adopt-a-Lot, etc.)
  2. Mini-Grant Program
  3. One Day Cleanup Event
  4. Alternate Labor (Inmate Cleanup)

Below are links and documents to help coordinators incorporate these programs as part of their cleanup initiatives.

Keep in mind the following tips for a successful cleanup program:

  • Enlist the help of others including youth programs, church groups, police, community development corporations, and public officials.
  • Match your cleanup location to the age and ability of your participants, i.e. do not have young children cleaning a busy road.
  • Make sure you have enough supplies (gloves, bags) for everyone.
  • Hold a short meeting before the cleanup so that everyone knows the safety rules and what is expected of them.

Volunteer in Park looking down

Empty one - do not remove

Adopt-a-Road Program

The concept of “adopting” an area provides opportunities to engage the public and businesses in your community in taking ownership of various sites to keep them clean and litter-free, with programs ranging from Adopt-a-Road to Adopt-a-Station. The City of Vineland runs multiple programs such as Adopt-a-Spot, Adopt-a-Neighborhood and Adopt-a-Block. These “Adopt-a-…” programs can be combined with mini-grants to offer groups an incentive to adopt a location. Examples with good ideas are provided below.

Documents/Links:

Signs:

Middlesex Adopt a Road Sign

 ACUA Adopt a Road SignSalem Adopt a Road Sign

Mini-Grant Program

Links to Mini-Grant Programs:

Documents:

  • Atlantic County Mini-Grant Program Application (Mini-Grants offered to Adopt-a-Road groups/individuals, includes application)
  • Hudson County Mini-Grant Packet (Includes application, participation agreement form, cleanup information form, suggestions for cleanup day – 4 pages)
  • Union County Mini-Grant Packet (Includes overview, guidelines, application, checklist, non-profit status form, individual release form, summary report – 8 pages)

School Mini-Grant Program:

  • Morris County Packet (Packet includes letter to Principal, certification form, application, agreement, participant form, summary report, guidelines – 10 pages)

One-Day Cleanup Event

  • Howell Township Sample Program Introduction
  • Sign-In Sheet for Volunteer Cleanup

Burlington One Day EventsRoxbury One Day Events

Alternate Labor

Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP)

Many County agencies that have a County Jail incorporate a Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (S.L.A.P.) into their clean communities’ program to augment cleanup of county roadways, waterways and parks.  A work detail comprised of 4 – 10 low risk inmates are chosen from the jail population and the group(s) are under continual supervision by two officers from the Sheriff’s or Corrections department.  

Grant funds may be used to offset officers’ salaries, inmate wages (if applicable), used to purchase bags, safety vests, signs, gloves and grabbers and may be used for disposal costs. 

The goal of the project is to clean up debris and litter in community parks, County and Municipal roadways

The Corrections Center works with local officials or clean communities coordinator to determine areas in need of litter pickup.  Targeted roads or parks can be scheduled on specific days or on an as needed basis. 

A Clean Up Report that consists of the date, location(s) and amount of litter picked up. All clean up statistics from these reports are transferred into a simple excel spreadsheet for tracking purposes that are used on the year-end Clean Communities Report. 

This program provides a way for counties to incorporate a year-round and consistent litter clean-up program on busy roads and park areas.  It also provides the County Coordinator with litter activity and tonnage numbers, which is a requirement of the Clean Communities Grant.

This program gives the inmates an opportunity to give back to their community while they are incarcerated and may even reduce their sentence.

NJDEP Clean Shores Program
Division of Water Monitoring and Standards, Bureau of Environmental Analysis, Restoration and Standards

According to the NJDEP website, “The Clean Shores program is a free statewide service that removes floatables such as wood, garbage, plastics, medical waste, and recyclables from tidal shorelines with the use of state inmate labor.”

Click on the Schedule a Clean Up tab which explains the details about which cleanups are eligible and provides contact information.

Paid Cleanups

You may want to consider hiring a private company to perform road cleanups instead of relying solely on volunteer groups.  Below is information about one private company doing cleanups. 

Adopt-A-Highway Litter Removal Service of America is a company that offers a litter pickup service for roadways.

Their main program is to obtain sponsorships from businesses that pay to have their business name advertised on signs on highways.  The business pays a monthly fee and the 1-mile (one side only) section of roadway is cleaned twice a month by a scheduled crew.  Adopt-A-Highway is fully insured and, although they are based in California, they have several crews working on major roadways and highways in the tri-state area. 

In addition, they have been hired by two New Jersey Counties to perform road cleanups on roads deemed not appropriate for cleanup by volunteer groups.

Graffiti

Tips and resources for graffiti removal and prevention:

  1. Many cities use their Department of Public Works employees as they can address the issue quickly.
  1. Quicker removal of graffiti leads to less new graffiti because the people who spray paint buildings want it displayed for a long time and are less likely to damage buildings when it is covered quickly.
  1. Murals painted are less likely to be vandalized. You should consider working with your cultural arts people to create the murals as that action involves more members of the community into the Clean Communities partnership.
  2. Visit this Keep America Beautiful webpage for several helpful documents about graffiti prevention tailored for students, teachers, homeowners, businesses, etc.

Business and Nonprofit Initiatives

Clean Business Association (South Plainfield) 

The South Plainfield Clean Business Association is a network of volunteers dedicated to creating and maintaining an attractive environment in the borough’s commercial and industrial areas.   

Members pledge to follow the Clean Business Association Standards which are:

To Promote and maintain an attractive, clean, safe, and environmentally sound business area, members agree to:

  1. Provide and maintain litter containers and waste disposal bins.
  2. Keep place of business free of obstructions and free of litter.
  3. Keep sidewalks, street frontage, alleys, parking lots, backyards, loading/uploading areas free of litter and debris.
  4. Ensure that delivery vehicles are loaded and covered properly so that the contents do not leak or fall out onto the roadway or other public areas; provide a litter bag in the cab for the driver’s use.
  5. Provide and maintain a receptacle near store exits for depositing shopping flyers.
  6. Weed, mow grass, clean up dead leaves and tree branches, and dispose of them properly.
  7. Enhance landscaping by trimming and maintaining trees and shrubs and when appropriate, planting new trees and shrubs.
  8. Keep and maintain property consistently on a year-round basis.

Association members also participate in South Plainfield’s annual Volunteer Litter Clean-up Week.

Members receive a decal that identifies them as a Clean Business Association member.  Annual Glitter Awards are provided to recognize a business that has improved its appearance.  A Glitter Award sign is place in front of the award-winner’s business and a press release is sent to the media.

CleanCommunityBanner

Philosophy

The cleaner a property is, the less likely people are to litter so please consider the following suggestions for a litter-free work environment

Best Practices For Businesses:

  1. Place adequate number of receptacles (garbage & recycling) in parking lots as well as inside and outside all building entrances. Use covered trash containers to eliminate trash from spilling or blowing out.
  2. Establish a regular schedule for emptying trash and recycling containers rather than emptying them on an ‘as needed’ basis.
  3. Establish smoking areas with appropriate cigarette butt receptacles for employees and customers.
  4. Remember to locate recycling and trash containers next to each other; label them with proper wording and pictures.
  5. Ensure roll-offs have adequate storage for quantity of waste generated between pickups.
  6. Educate employees, especially maintenance staff, that litter is not acceptable and should be picked up.
  7. Have employees conduct a Litter Cleanup Program in and around the property and post pictures in company newsletter or on website. Don’t forget trapped litter around fence lines.
  8. Prohibit dissemination of fliers on windshields.
  9. Provide receptacles at drive up windows before window, in shopping cart areas and parking lots.
  10. Don’t forget to prevent litter from fleet vehicles too:
    • Require tarps on any vehicles transporting materials
    • Instruct drivers to pick up materials that have fallen off their load
    • Add litter bags to all company vehicles

DO’s

  • Empty trash and recycling containers regularly!
  • Provide adequate number of receptacles (garbage & recycling)

DosBins1DosBins2

DON’TS

DontsBinOverflow1DontsBinsOverflow2 

 COMPANIES DOING IT RIGHT!!

Covanta’s Annual Cleanup in Newark

CovantaLogoCovantaPileCovantaTwoGuys

 

Waste Management
WM’s Annual Cleanup in Elizabeth

WasteMgtGroup

NY Yankees!

NYYankees3containers

Safety

To see some of the safety equipment you will need for cleanups, also visit the Supplies & Equipment below section.

Watch these videos on safety.  One is for groups and one is for individuals.  The videos gives safety, first aid, weather and clothing tips, hazards to be aware of, emergency, construction & traffic concerns, and unsafe behavior to avoid and bending and lifting tips.

Educate volunteers and cleanup participants about proper clothing and behaviors to prevent tick bites and how to identify poison ivy and other poisonous plants. Visit these links:

 Important Safety Rules 

In addition to the safety rules listed below, the ACUA has some Safety protocols listed in this document.

The following list is provided as guidance to participants and is not all inclusive.

  • Know emergency procedures such as the location of the nearest emergency facility and how to quickly summon the police or an ambulance
  • Conduct at least one safety orientation session during each calendar year.
  • Provide appropriate and adequate adult supervision when youth groups are involved in litter pickups, that is one adult per five (5) participants below the age of 17.
  • Where deemed appropriate, the group will contact/inform the local police department in the town where the cleanup is to be performed as to the dates, times and location of cleanup activities.
  • Bring a First Aid Kit.First Aid Kit
  • Perform cleanup activities when weather is conducive and during daylight hours.
  • Avoid peak traffic hours and extreme inclement weather conditions.
  • Carpool to the litter pickup site.
  • Park vehicles a safe distance from the traveled roadway.
  • Install “litter patrol ahead” sign and/or traffic cones (if provided) before you start your cleanup activity.
  • All vehicles should remain on the same side of the road as the participants.
  • Wear the recommended attire: long sleeves, blue-jeans or long pants, leather shoes or boots, and gloves and SAFETY VESTS.
  • Notify Group Leader of all known allergies and any physical infirmities prior to participation.
  • Be careful of contact with poison plants, bees, wasps, hornets, fire ants, and snakes. The recommended attire will usually prevent irritations from most plants.
  • Tuck pant legs into socks, and your shirt into your pants to prevent tick exposure. Check your head and body thoroughly when you return home.
  • Pay special attention to the handling of broken glass and sharp pieces of metal. Participants must be careful not to step or kneel on broken glass or metal.
  • Be aware of visibility problems.Traffic cone
  • Be prepared for any unexpected behavior of motorists.
  • Attempt to walk facing on-coming traffic.
  • Pick up litter on one side of the road at a time.
  • Avoid overexertion and heat related problems by drinking water and taking breaks.
  • DO NOT stand or jump on guardrails, drainage pipes or concrete walls.
  • Never cross over or pickup trash on the traveled pavement.
  • Stay clear of all construction areas.
  • Avoid all horseplay or demonstrations of any nature on the right of way.
  • Avoid hazardous materials such as car batteries or any unidentified questionable items and animal carcasses.
  • Do not possess or drink alcoholic beverages.

Supplies & Equipment

Various types of supplies and equipment are needed to safely and efficiently clean litter from roadways and other locations. Below are some types of equipment you will need to purchase for your program which you can lend to volunteer groups. Vendors which sell this equipment are listed on the Vendor List.

Volunteer in Park looking forward

Personal Gear:

  • Safety Vests
  • Gloves
  • First Aid Kit

Traffic Alert Equipment:

  • Signs
  • Cones
  • Flags
  • Strobe Light for Car

Miscellaneous Supplies and Equipment:

  • Grabber
  • Picker
  • Hanging Scale
  • Bags
    • Bag It (bag holder)
    • Clear Bags
    • Imprinted Bags
    • Supply Bags
    • Tote Bags

Adopt a Road Suppy Card Salem ImageThis card from Salem County can be used to track the equipment given to groups and to explain the washing of gloves and vests.

 

 

 

 

Personal Gear

Safety Vests & First Aid Kit  

SafetyVestFirstAidKit

Gloves

AquaGloves2BlackGloves1Gloves3

Traffic Alert Equipment

Signs

LitterSigns1LitterSigns2

Cones, Flags & Strobe Light for Car  

TrafficConesTrafficFlagsStrobeLight

Miscellaneous Supplies

Grabbers, Pickers & Hanging Scale 

Grabber1Grabbers2PickersScale

Bags – Clear Bags, Imprinted Bags, Bag It (bag holder), Supply Bags & Tote Bags

 ClearBagImprintedBagBagIt BagHolderSupplyBagToteBag

Litter Apps

Here are 3 mobile apps that volunteers and anyone can use to track litter cleanups that they do on their own or in groups. One is primarily for around towns and streets, one is for beach cleanups and the other is for underwater dive cleanups.

Link to these applications from your website or refer volunteers looking to do cleanups to these self-reporting apps.

  • Litterati app, data for a litter free world
  • Clean Swell® app, Ocean Conservancy’s trash collection mobile app
    • “Join a global movement to keep beaches, waterways and the ocean trash free.  Head out to your favorite beach and use the app to easily record each item of trash you collect.  Then share your effort with family and friends.”
  • Marine Debris Tracker app, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program

NJDOT Litter Complaint

  • NJDOT On-line Public Problem Reporting links to the New Jersey Department of Transportation site for “Public Problem Reporting” for various issues
    • As stated on this NJDOT site, “Please tell us where the pothole, tall grass, graffiti, roadway debris/litter, deer carcass, traffic light or sign problem, maintenance, or guiderail damage is located.” Instructions and a short “how-to” video are provided to help complete the on-line reporting which includes marking the problem location on a map.

Volume to Weight Conversion Charts

Measuring Area with Google Earth Pro

Do you ever have volunteers clean a park or other site and you don’t know how to calculate that area for your statistical report? One way is to use Google Earth Pro (thanks to Elyse Barone for the tip!).

Google Earth Pro is free!

  1. Visit this website to download the program (make sure you download the “Pro” version) https://www.google.com/earth/explore/products/desktop.html
  2. From the website here is how to take a measurement:
    https://support.google.com/earth/answer/148134?hl=en
    1. Open Google Earth.
    2. Navigate to a spot on the globe.
    3. In the menu bar, click Tools>Ruler. A box will appear.
    4. In the bottom left corner of the Ruler box, make sure that Mouse Navigation is checked.
    5. Click the tab for what you want to measure:
      • In Google Earth, you can measure:
        • Line: the distance between two points on the map
        • Path: the distance between multiple points on the ground
      • In Google Earth Pro, you can also measure:
        • Polygon: the distance or area of a geometric shape on the ground
        • Circle: measure the circumference of a circle on the ground
        • 3D path: the distance between a building and various places on the ground
        • 3D polygon: the height, width, and area of 3D buildings
    6. On the map, click a starting point for your measurement.
    7. Click an end point.
    8. You’ll see a line or shape on the globe that shows what you’re measuring. The measurements will show up in the “Ruler” box.

Save your Measurement

Once you’ve taken a measurement, you can save it:

  1. In the “Ruler” box, click Save.
  2. In the “Name” field, type a name for what you measured.

In the bottom right corner, click OK. Google Earth will add your measurement under “Places” in the left-hand panel.