Community Clean-Up Project

Shared spaces — parks, streets, playgrounds, and sidewalks — belong to everyone. When we keep them clean, we show that we care about our neighbors and our community.

Why do shared spaces matter?

• Shared spaces are places everyone can use — they are owned by the whole community, not just one person.
• When shared spaces are clean and cared for, people feel proud of their neighborhood and more connected to each other.
• Litter harms animals, pollutes the environment (the air, water, and land around us), and makes neighborhoods less safe and welcoming.

What is civic responsibility?

• Civic responsibility means the duties and actions a citizen takes to help their community.
• Keeping shared spaces clean is one of the simplest and most powerful civic actions anyone can take.
• Example: Picking up litter in a park, not throwing trash on the ground, and recycling correctly are all civic responsibilities.

The three waste bins

• Recycle — paper, cardboard, glass bottles, plastic bottles, aluminum cans.
• Compost — food scraps, fruit peels, vegetable cuttings, coffee grounds.
• Trash — items that cannot be recycled or composted, such as broken toys, food-soiled paper, or candy wrappers.

How a clean-up project works

• Choose a space to clean with a grown-up — your bedroom, backyard, front yard, or nearby sidewalk.
• Wear gloves and work with a grown-up. Never pick up glass, needles, or sharp things — tell your grown-up instead. Sort what you collect into the correct bins.
• Count what you picked up and record it on your tally sheet.
• Reflect: How does the space look and feel after the clean-up?