New York Trash Clubs
New York has seen a growing trend of volunteer-run "trash clubs" like ours. Here are the crews we know of, so you can find one near you.
- Community Cleanup PLG – Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn.
- Greenpoint Trash Club – Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
- Clean Up Crown Heights – Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
- Astoria Trash Club – Astoria, Queens.
- Sunnyside Trash Club – Sunnyside, Queens.
- Woodside Trash Club – Woodside, Queens.
- Pick Up Pigeons – Around Brooklyn & Queens.
- Club Canned – Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
- East Williamsburg Trash Club – East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
- NYC Trash Club – occasional cleanups, more centered on events in Brooklyn around trash infrastructure.
- Rego Park Trash Club – Rego Park, Queens.
- Bushwick Trash Lady – Bushwick, Brooklyn.
- Trash Talk NYC – Washington Heights, Manhattan.
- Litter Legion – Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan.
- Bed-Stuy Cleanups – Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
- Jackson Heights Beautification Group – Jackson Heights, Queens.
- The Trash Walker – Upper West Side, Manhattan.
- Brooklyn Brigilante – Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn.
- Nasty New Yorkers – Lower East Side, Manhattan.
- Fort Tilden / Breezy Point Beach Cleanup – Fort Tilden & Breezy Point, Queens (details below).
- DSNY Running Club – Staten Island.
Did we miss any, or curious about starting a trash club in your neighborhood? Email us
Fort Tilden / Breezy Point Beach Cleanup
Times: Mornings, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
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“Get outside, get some sun, help restore the habitat for the plovers, and meet new people offline! Leave feeling rejuvenated from soaking up nature with new friends!”
Bring sunscreen, water, snacks, any medicine you might need, and gear for cleaning, like gloves, trash bags, and hand sanitizer.
Fort Tilden / Breezy Point Frequently Asked Questions
Q: “How is trash collected once we’ve finished cleaning up for the day?”
A: Trash is picked up regularly by NPS (National Park Service) workers from the bins on the main walking path.
Q: “What if I’m late?”
A: We all know trains & ferries can be hit or miss—particularly during the summer on those gorgeous days—so show up whenever you can and come look for us! If you can’t find anyone, hey! make the most of it! You’re at the beach, after all, right? :)
Q: “Are supplies for cleaning provided?”
A: “We’re not a non-profit organization, so we can’t supply the cleanup gear, unforch. We’re just a bunch of people who have a love for the beach, who feel the urgency to preserve nature, and who are aiming to form new connection in their lives not mediated by social media! Don’t hesitate to pester your local bar, restaurant, or grocery store for gloves & trash bags! Just tell them it’s for a good cause! If you’re taking the ferry, tell the ferry workers you’re headed to a beach cleanup and ask if they can spare a set.
In the press
Trash clubs keep making the news. A few stories worth reading about why efforts like ours are growing:
- In New York, trash clubs are becoming a social movement — Washington Post
- Greenpoint Trash Club – the only club without a cover – Brooklyn Eagle
- Garbage Nights Out: How Trash Clubs Are Cleaning and Connecting NYC – La Voce di New York
Attribution
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors, drawn with Protomaps.
Neighborhood boundaries from NYC Neighborhood Boundaries by Chris Whong, derived from Zillow’s neighborhood boundaries, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.