Volunteer Resource

Volunteer cleanup checklist

Everything you need to know before showing up to a community cleanup. Whether it is your first time or your fifteenth, preparation makes the difference between a frustrating experience and a genuinely effective one.

What to Bring

Gloves

Thick rubber or gardening gloves. The organiser may provide them, but having your own is always safer.

Sturdy closed-toe footwear

No sandals or open shoes. Broken glass, sharp objects, and uneven terrain are common.

Water bottle

At least 1 litre. Cleanup work is physical. Staying hydrated keeps you effective.

Sun protection

Hat, sunscreen, or both — especially for morning or coastal cleanups.

Old clothes

Wear something you do not mind getting dirty. Dark colours hide stains better.

A fully charged phone

For QR check-in on letscleanup.org, navigation, and photographing before/after.

Small first aid kit (optional)

A few plasters and antiseptic wipes. Most events will have some on hand, but carrying your own is good practice.

What to Expect on the Day

A gathering point briefing

The organiser will brief all participants before work begins. This covers safety, zone assignments, and waste handling instructions. Do not skip this.

Zone assignments

For larger groups, the area is divided into zones. You will be assigned an area to focus on. This prevents overlap and ensures full coverage.

QR check-in

On events using letscleanup.org's verification system, you will scan a QR code to record your attendance. This creates a verified participation record attached to your profile.

Waste segregation

Dry waste, wet waste, and hazardous materials are collected separately. The organiser will explain what goes where. Follow instructions carefully.

A defined end time

Cleanups have a set duration. The organiser is responsible for coordinating waste handover to municipal services. Respect the timeline.

Before and after documentation

Photos may be taken before and after. These are used as evidence of impact and may be embedded on the event page on letscleanup.org.

What Not to Do

  • Do not handle syringes, broken glass, or chemical containers with bare hands — flag them to the organiser
  • Do not enter water bodies without explicit safety coordination
  • Do not bring political or commercial messaging — cleanups are non-partisan civic events
  • Do not leave mid-event without informing the organiser — zone coverage depends on headcount
  • Do not discard collected waste informally — it defeats the entire purpose

How Your Participation Is Recorded

When you join a verified cleanup event on letscleanup.org, your attendance is recorded via QR check-in at the event. This creates a permanent, verified record of your participation — not just an RSVP, but proof that you were there.

Your participation contributes to the event's verified participant count, which feeds into the platform's civic impact record — publicly visible on theimpact dashboardand thecivic archive.

Find Your First Cleanup

Browse verified cleanup events on letscleanup.org

Every listed event is reviewed, has a defined location, and records verified participation. Find one near you and show up.

Browse Upcoming Cleanups →