On the Events page, sign up for a date and include each participant's name and glove and vest size. Read the Safety Rules and General Rules. Review and agree to the waiver from liability for participation. Be sure you know which way north is and which way south is.
Read the rest of the FAQ's / Rules for information about getting your supplies and what to wear and bring. You will receive an email with your starting location a day or so before your cleanup begins. Go there anytime between 9am and 5pm, and your supplies will be there.
Supplies provided: litter crew sign, gloves, trash bags, safety vests, and litter sticks. Your supplies will be left at a specific location along RT 1 or RT 41. Your name will be on the bag; if you see someone else's name, you are in the wrong spot. Park and start where your supplies are located and head south or north depending on the instructions provided to you. Once you have had enough, head back to your vehicle and leave the supplies where you found them.
Your supplies will be at your starting location by 9 am on the day(s) you choose. You will be sent your starting location the day before the cleanup. The cleanup moves each week based on where the last cleanup ended. If you arrive at a location and the supply bag doesn't have your name on it, you are at the wrong location. Find your location use the google pin I sent you or if you have questions call 610-772-7703. Park at the pinned location where your supplies are located and head the direction you were told to go. Please know your north from your south.
For RT 1 cleanups, you must be at least 15 (Kitty made this excellent recommendation).
For other non-highway cleanups, you must be at least 12. Exceptions may be made on RT 52 for super smart kids, who are good listeners, and are at least 9.
Sturdy shoes, preferably hiking boots
Pants and a long sleeve top (the brighter the better- think 1984 and be sure they are weather appropriate)
A hat (it prevents sun in your eyes, thorns and twigs from being caught in your hair, and ticks away from your scalp)
Sunglasses for the reasons listed for wearing a hat minus the ticks
Water, preferably in a reusable bottle
Backpack to carry supplies, water, and possible treasures.
You are volunteering at your own risk so don't die.
Don't walk in the road. If you see a piece of trash on the road, look to make sure no cars are coming, grab it and return to the grass or behind the guardrail.
Don't assume people will slow down when they see you. The same people driving on these roads while you are out there are the same people who have littered the roads.
Don't use drugs or alcohol before participating. Afterwards, the choice is yours.
Be careful while walking and climbing. The trash unfortunately rolls to the lowest point, you will be walking on uneven surfaces, near rivers and streams, and scaling rocks. Remember that slow and steady wins the race. Don't go outside your comfort zone.
Use your litter stick to pick up trash when you can. If you try and bend over and pick up trash without using the stick, you will break your back. Litter sticks are great for getting plastic bags out of thorn bushes. Your litter stick can pick up pretty much everything except for glass bottles. Use your hands for those.
If you see a water bottle filled with yellow or orange colored liquid, don't use your stick to pick it up, unless you want a golden shower. Use your hands.
Search high and low and turn around often. Some of the trash clings to trees, some is Earth colored, and some is slightly buried.
When cleaning an area, you can go back until you see a fence line. The trash often blows way off the road and many litterers throw very far after having years of practice. If there is no fence, keep going until the trash ends.
Keep your safety vests and gloves on while cleaning.
If you fall, get up.
Don't put tires or wheels or very large objects into the bags. Line them up along the road.
If you see a tree growing out of a tire hole or a tire that is buried deep, leave it.
Tie your bag shut and place it on the edge of the road when it's filled or too heavy to carry.
Don't pick up cigarette butts. You will end up in the same place you started.
You can keep whatever you find.
When removing your gloves, grab them at the wrist and turn them inside out, leave them with the safety vests, sticks, and extra bags. They will be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
Don't flip people off when they beep at you. They are saying thank you.
Watch out for wildlife. Snakes like to hide in fertilizer bags. If you see a snake back away. Snakes with cat eyes are supposedly poisonous. If you see those back away super quickly.
After removing your gloves, don't eat anything or touch your face until you wash your hands with soap and water.
Do not put dead animals in bags, it's not that kind of cleanup.
A lot of trash.
A lot of animals who didn't make it.
A lot of traffic noise.
A lot of trying to figure out how there could possibly be so much trash.
A great sense of accomplishment.
A beautiful area.
Animals and fish who won't get stuck in trash.
Plastic that won't make it to the ocean.
You will see roadside trash everywhere you go.
You will want to help again.
Wash your hands.
Put all your clothing directly in the washer. It may have ticks in it.
Take a long hot shower, wash your whole body with soap, and check yourself for ticks.
Relax- you have made the world a better place.
If you have any questions that were not answered, please let me know.