Clean Toronto Together

From April 25 to 27, community groups, families, individuals, and businesses in Toronto are invited to spend 20 minutes cleaning up litter in a local park. 

Doing a self-directed cleanup is an easy yet impactful way to help keep our parks beautiful, by picking up small plastics, cans, bottles, and other harmful litter.

How to Organize a Park Cleanup

1. Complete the online registration between March 17 to April 23.
2. Choose an approved cleanup location such as a park, ravine or beach.
3. Pick a day that’s convenient for you: Friday, April 25, Saturday, April 26 or Sunday, April 27. 
4. Determine a start time. Mornings are the best time to avoid crowds.
5. Gather supplies for your cleanup, such as litter bags, gloves, trash grabbers (optional), hand sanitizer and water/snacks.
6. City staff will contact you to confirm your cleanup location and arrange for special litter collection, if required.

Important Information

• Litter cleanups are a self-led activity.
• City staff do not organize or attend cleanups.  
• City staff will not provide tools, supplies or validate volunteer hours. 
• Safety tips, litter sorting and other guidance will be provided to all registered participants.
• There are no rain dates.
• Registration is not mandatory but is encourage so that the City can track areas cleaned, manage double bookings and recognize the efforts of volunteers.

The registration form contains a list of approved park locations for April 25 to 27. 

Approved Locations

• Beaches 
• Dog Off-Leash Areas 
• Parks 
• Playgrounds 
• Ravines 
• Skateparks
• Sports Fields
• Trails 

Locations Not Approved

• Allotment Gardens
• Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI)
• Community Gardens
• Environmentally Significant Areas (ESA)
• Golf Courses
• Indoor Facilities
• Naturalized and Restoration Spaces
• Public Gardens
• Private Properties
• Streets, Roads, Laneways, Parking Lots and Bike Lanes
• Wading Pools and Splash Pads
• Wetlands

Students can celebrate Earth Day by spending 20 minutes cleaning up their schoolyard or a neighbourhood park. All educational institutions in Toronto, including schools, colleges and universities are encouraged to join.

• Registration with the City is not required.
• School cleanups require the approval of your school principal or property manager.
• School participants should reach out to office staff or caretakers to obtain litter bags and gloves. The City no longer provides free cleanup supply kits to schools.

In 2004, Toronto launched an ambitious plan to enhance the city’s cleanliness and beauty. As part of the Clean and Beautiful City initiative, the 20-Minute Makeover was introduced, encouraging both public and private sector involvement in litter removal from our public spaces. In April 2004, the inaugural 20-Minute Toronto Makeover was held, attracting more than 44,000 participants.  

Since its inaugural event, the 20-Minute Makeover has been championed by successive Mayors and implemented under various names, including Clean Toronto Together. Toronto’s cleanup initiative has grown to become the largest annual litter cleanup in Canada and includes the support of a wide range of participants, from residents and students to businesses and City staff, all working together to keep Toronto’s public spaces litter-free. 

In 2025, the City will be exploring ways to assist community groups in organizing litter cleanup events in local parks year-round to meet popular demand. More details will be provided soon.  

• 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 and disposed of at a City Drop-Off Depot or Community Environment Day.
• Report suspicious items to Toronto Police Service via their non-emergency telephone number at 416-808-2222.

Collecting Litter

• Small items such as cigarette butts and gum, and large items such as bags, napkins, masks, and single-use drink cups are commonly littered items.
• Any type of bag can be used to collect litter. Participants are encouraged to reuse old plastic bags.
• Learn What Goes in the Garbage Bin?  

Recycling Tips

• Clear bags should be used to collect recyclable items.
• Recyclables that are mostly clean and dry, as well as empty containers, should be placed in your recycling bag.
• Dirty, soaked, or decomposing papers and plastics should be placed in litter/garbage bags.
• Learn What Goes in the Blue Bin (Recycling)? 

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 should report needles or other dangerous articles to their school caretaker.

Waste Wizard

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