Youth Litter Cleanups

Explore our interactive map to learn about the amazing youth and educators working to reduce litter in their communities.

The City of New York identifies environmental justice areas using the State’s definition of disadvantaged communities (DAC). Similarly, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) uses the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool to ensure that the benefits of Federal programs are reaching communities that are overburdened and underserved. At the Sanitation Foundation, we refer to both of these resources to identify areas of high need. Click here for more information.

Get inspired by the creative litter reduction actions taken by youth and educators!

“We first did a walking trip around our school community to assess which area was the best spot for our first cleanup. We decided the grassy area in the back of our school yard was the best spot to clean up because then after we can possibly create a school garden back there.”

— Jennifer Bernstein, Teacher, Sustainability Coordinator

P.S. 186 Dr. Irving A Gladstone

“Our Green Team invited our News Team to join us. They will be adding our litter cleanup to the next edition of The P.S. 63 News Report to spread the word and motivate others to join us for our next litter cleanup. They also made posters with the Art teacher to hand around our building.”

— Marykate Meyer, Teacher, Sustainability Coordinator

P.S. 63 Old South School

“We created a carnival from recycled materials to bring the message home about waste and reducing single use plastic from their daily living. The 4th and 5th grade Green Team members helped create carnival games out of cardboard boxes.”

— Pallavi Shastri, SAPIS Counselor

P.S. 92 Harry T. Stewart Sr.