Do-It-Yourself Cleanup Toolkit

Do you ever see trash in your town and think, “I wish someone would clean that up.”? Be that someone and host your own trash cleanup!

Cleanups are easy and can be as small as one person with a trash bag, or as large as 50 people working together. Just follow a few guidelines about where and when to clean up and remember some important safety rules.

Here’s how to do it:

Download Friends of the Kaw’s Do-It-Yourself Cleanup Toolkit for information on how to safely conduct a cleanup.
After completing your cleanup, go to bit.ly/FOKCleanupReport and report your findings. We’ll add your amounts to the tally below and include them in our annual accounting of river trash collected.
When you complete the report form, tell us the name and address of your organizer. We’ll send you a “Volunteers Get it Done” sticker as a thank you!

If you post a picture of your cleanup on social media, tag Friends of the Kaw or use #litterfreekaw and we’ll share your picture!

Why host a cleanup? Every piece of trash you see on the ground is one windy day away from a stream or stormwater drain. The Kansas River watershed covers over 61,000 square miles, and much of the water in those streams and drains will eventually make it’s way to the Kansas River – and take that trash along with it. Over 950,000 Kansas get their drinking water from the river and it’s a critical wildlife corridor. Keeping trash out of our waterways and the Kansas River benefits all of us.

Thank you for helping to keep our rivers clean and healthy. We’re glad you’re a part of our team of river stewards!

2024 DIY Trash Tally

As of June 30, 2024 community members have picked up over 1,120 pounds of trash from the watershed!

Check out these useful links and downloads:

Questions about the cleanup toolkit or other cleanup activities? Please email Kim Bellemere at kim.bellemere@kansasriver.org.