Organize or join a park cleanup for Earth Day 2026

The City of Waterloo invites community members to pitch in for a cleaner, greener community by joining or organizing a park litter cleanup for Earth Day.

Each year, the City supports a community-wide effort to clean up local parks and trails in celebration of Earth Day and the arrival of spring.

In 2025, nearly 1,000 participants from neighbourhood and community groups, corporate teams, families and friends took part across Waterloo, removing over 570 kg of litter, roughly the equivalent of 200 large garbage bags.

This year, the City will also host a cleanup at Waterloo Park on Saturday, April 25, 2026.  From 10 a.m. to noon, community members are invited to help pick up litter throughout the park. Participants can also learn about local pollinators and explore additional ways to get involved in caring for local parks.

“These cleanups are a simple and meaningful way for anyone to give back to the community,” said Robin Milne, Director of Parks, Forestry and Cemetery Services, City of Waterloo. “As the snow melts, litter that’s built up over the winter becomes more visible. Coming together to clean our parks helps prepare these shared spaces for the spring and summer seasons.”

While Earth Day is a great time for litter cleanups, residents are encouraged to care for local parks year-round. Through the Partners in Parks program, residents can sign up to mulch trails, manage invasive plants, or enhance their local park with a little library, litter cleanup, pollinator garden or community message board.

When visiting local parks, please do your part to help keep parks clean and welcoming. Dispose of your garbage properly, respect wildlife and leave the park as you found it. If bringing pets, keep them on a leash (unless in a designated dog park) and always pick up after them.

Learn more at www.waterloo.ca/Earth-Day

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Media Contact

Shirley Luu
Communications Consultant
City of Waterloo
shirley.luu@waterloo.ca