Clean-up (environment)

A cleanup or clean-up is a form of environmental volunteering where a group of people get together to pick-up and dispose of litter in a designated location.^[1][2][3][4] Cleanups can take place on a street, in a neighborhood, at a park, on a water stream, or other public spaces.^[5] Cleanup events are often volunteer run.^[1] The cleanup volunteers make sure the waste picked-up is disposed of in its appropriate place.^[5] Cleanup events are often community-centered and led.^[6]

During the COVID-19 pandemic litter picking participation has greatly increased in the UK.^[7] There are a vast range of reasons that people take part in litter picking activities. These include: clearing up unsightly areas; protecting wildlife; keeping people safe, connecting with nature, finding valuables, being part of a community, mental and physical health benefits and acting to protect the environment.^[8]