Clean Toronto Together

The 20-Minute Makeover was created to support Toronto businesses who want to help cleanup litter!

Joining is easy:

• Select a public space that needs your help such as a park, sidewalk, ravine or beach.
• Pick a 20-minute timeframe that works for your group. Many groups schedule a 2 p.m. cleanup.
• Register your cleanup to avoid duplicate cleanups at the same location, and arrange for special litter collection, if required.
• Gather supplies for your cleanup – you will need litter bags, gloves, trash grabbers (optional), hand sanitizer, and water/snacks.
• Share a photo of your cleanup in progress – using hashtag #cleantoronto
• Many groups hold an event to celebrate Earth Day (April 22) or on corporate volunteering days.

Safety tips and other guidance will be provided to all registered participants.

To learn more, please contact cleantoronto@toronto.ca

Starting after the spring thaw, community groups, families and individuals are encouraged to visit a local park or other public space to help clean up litter – such as small plastics, cans, bottles and other waste. Taking part is easy:

• Select a public space that needs your help such as a park, sidewalk, ravine or beach.
• Pick a time that works for you. We recommend a maximum of one hour.
• Register your cleanup to avoid duplicate cleanups at the same location, and arrange for special litter collection, if required.
• Gather supplies for your cleanup – you will need litter bags, gloves, trash grabbers (optional), hand sanitizer, and water/snacks.
• Share a photo of your cleanup in progress – using hashtag #cleantoronto

Safety tips and other guidance will be provided to all registered participants.

To learn more, please contact cleantoronto@toronto.ca

Celebrate Earth Day by spending 20-minutes cleaning up your schoolyard or a neighbourhood park.

Important information:

• All Toronto schools, colleges and universities are welcome to join.
• School cleanups should have approval from your school principal or property manager.
• TDSB and TCDSB participants will be provided additional information where to get bags and gloves.
• The City no longer provides free cleanup supply kits to schools.
• Safety tips and waste sorting guides will be provided to all registered schools.

Registration for the next school cleanup day will open in March 2025.

Since 2004, the City of Toronto has encouraged Toronto residents and community groups, schools, businesses and City staff to help clean litter from our public spaces, including parks, beaches and schoolyards.

To help co-ordinate the cleanups, the City offers online registration so that participants can book their cleanup location and request a special litter collection, if required. Participants are encouraged to reuse plastic bags from home for litter collection.

• Wear appropriate clothing and protection (long pants, long sleeves, boots, gloves, rain jacket, hat, sunscreen and insect repellent). Learn how to avoid tick bites.
• Bring a first aid kit; students should be accompanied by a person trained in first aid.
• Be mindful of vehicles when near or adjacent to a road.
• Do not work on unstable or slippery ground (ravines, river banks), in tunnels, or near stormwater management ponds.
• Only pick up litter. Leaves, twigs and plants can remain on the ground.
• Avoid stepping on shrubs, bulbs, and flowers.
• Do not pick up or move heavy objects such as tree limbs.
• Do not pick up animal waste.
• Do not pick up needles or other dangerous items (e.g. syringes, metal, chemicals, medical waste). Report the location of these items to 311.
• Hazardous waste such as batteries, aerosol containers, lights and light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, helium and propane tanks/cylinders should be set aside from recycling and litter.
• Report suspicious items to Toronto Police Service via their non-emergency telephone number at 416-808-2222.

Recycling Tips

• Only put clean recycling in clear plastic bags, such as empty plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
• Place dirty recyclables and wet papers in a litter bag.
• Recyclables collected in a City park should be placed in or beside the large City Blue Bins in the park in clear plastic bags.

Household Hazardous Waste

• Keep hazardous waste separate from garbage and recycling. Hazardous waste includes batteries, aerosol containers, lights and light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, helium and propane tanks/cylinders.
• Do not pick up needles or other dangerous articles (e.g. syringes, metal, chemicals, medical waste) – report the location of these items to 311. School cleanup leaders may report this to their Superintendent or school caretakers.

Check the Waste Wizard or download the TOwaste app on your smartphone to find out how to properly dispose an item.