National CleanUp Day is going paperless

National Cleanup day has partnered with Otter Waiver to reduce our volunteer paper consumption to zero this year and we need your help! 

Participants, sign your waiver here, or Event Organizers setup an account. More info below.

LEAVE YOUR MARK, START A CLEANUP


Sign Up to CleanUp!

Complete the form below to Register and Start a Public CleanUp.

If you are organizing a group cleanup sign up for Otter and get 100 free waiver credits and use the trash cleanup template to protect your organization and save time and money in the process.

Otter + National CleanUp Day

Make Checkin a Breeze

Modernize your events and make them safer and healthier for participants. As you begin planning events, make sure to set up a free account with Otter Waiver. Use their intuitive technology to obtain and manage all of your participant waivers. 

Otter’s software helps you to eliminate long lines using speedy QR-based technology, and users can check in participants and verify that their waiver is signed on a computer, tablet, or phone. Never shuffle through paper again!

Start by creating an account here and Otter will provide you with 100 free credits to get started. No waiver? No problem. Use the free trash CleanUp waiver template in the Otter waiver builder. 


 

Follow these 8 steps to make the most of your cleanup.

Below, you’ll find all of the specific instructions and links to help you get started. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Follow our simple online 8 step guide that covers everything from volunteers to being published in the media.

1. Sign up for your free Otter account

  • Before you start organizing your event, make sure to set up a free account with Otter Waiver to run all your volunteer waivers through.

2. Organize a planning group:

  • Invite members from local government, civic organizations, clubs, homeowner associations, churches and media to serve on a cleanup planning committee.

  • Having a diverse coalition can help the event run smoothly.

  • Ask your Mayor for a National CleanUp Day Proclamation - it’s simple to do and your Mayor will usually make the proclamation annually without need for a vote.

3. Select an appropriate site, date, and time:

  • Choose a public location: a park, a river, or a similar community site that is ideally accessible by public transportation or bicycle.

  • Select a date: National CleanUp Day is on the Third Saturday in September, but your cleanup can occur anytime during the month of September

  • Time: Depending on where you are, choose a time that allows for plenty of daylight and comfortable temperatures for volunteers.

4. Plan your cleanup:

  • Build a Waiver for your event on Otter Waiver. This is an important step for liability and volunteer security.

  • Determine the size of crew needed to clean each area.

  • Determine transportation needs to get crews to and from the cleanup.

  • Determine what additional litter pickups will be required in areas where sanitation departments will not be available.

  • Determine where crews will need portable sanitary facilities.

  • Online: Use Facebook or Eventbrite to create the event and manage volunteer sign up, and share event information.

  • Offline: Put up posters around the neighborhood, on the elevator in your apartment building, on the bulletin board in your building, etc. Get creative!

5. Line up support and supplies and arrange for disposal and recycling:

  • Ask for donations of trash bags, refreshments, equipment.

  • Be sure that contributors get credit for their donations in cleanup promotion.

6. Start your cleanup day

  • Download the Otter App and sync all your signed waivers: IOS Download, Android Download. Learn More

  • Setting up your table:
    Litter Getters (for pickup)
    Trash Bags and/or bucketsFood/Water/Gloves
    (spread these out depending upon what we bring)
    Return Litters Getters (separate box)
    Flyers, Digital Liability Waivers, business cards etc
    Table and chairs (we bring two tables - 6’ and 4’)
    Event signage (if available)

7. Orientation and Safety Talk

  • COLLECT Online Liability Waivers – one for each person with Otter Waiver. To reduce paper, if someone needs to sign, simply have them scan the custom QR Code for your event and have them sign and then check them in.

  • Remember: safety first!
    Two people make a team.
    Wear Gloves & closed toe shoes.
    Bring a hat, sunscreen & water.
    Watch your footing.
    If something is too heavy, get help.
    Children must have adult supervision.

  • Keep the environment safe
    Vegetation is sensitive.
    ‍Wildlife is best kept wild.

  • What to remove
    Trash and Litter (Tiny to Large, anything created by humans. )
    Recyclables

  • What to leave
    NatureHazardous Stuff (mark it & see the Site Captain)
    Homeless encampments
    Be non-confrontational
    Dead animals
    Syringes, needles, hazardous materials

8. Post to social and record your data

  • Help us track the trash and fill out a Report a CleanUp form.

  • Publicize the success of the event on social media - tag us at @NationalCleanUpDay and use the hashtag #NationalCleanUpDay.

  • Share your images with local newspapers and magazines.

  • Write thank you emails to any cooperating government officials, businesses, and organizations.

  • Share your photos with National Cleanup Day here.

 

Want to start an individual CleanUp? Click the button below:


Stay safe and have fun!

After your CleanUp, be sure to fill out a Report a CleanUp form.


Don’t want to start your own CleanUp? Join or look for an existing CleanUp.

Steven Reinhold - Ocean Conservancy 2020.jpeg