Join an Earth Day Community Clean-up

Help remove litter from city parks this spring by joining our Earth Day Community Clean-up event or by organizing your own group clean-up.

2026 clean-up results

During our annual Earth Day spring cleanup, Waterloo residents worked together to remove litter from parks and trails in Waterloo.

Over 1000 participants from 50+ community groups, removed over 850 kg of trash and large items from the parks.

We're proud of what our community can achieve when we work together as a team.

Thank you to the following groups who organized a park cleanup, making Waterloo a more beautiful place to live:

Event details for the next Earth Day Community clean-up will be shared in 2027.

Each year, the city hosts an Earth Day Community Clean-up event where community members work together to collect litter in Waterloo Park.

Check with your Neighbourhood Association and the community events calendar to see if a clean-up is already happening in a park near you.

Before registering for a clean-up, review the roles and responsibilities for staff, group leaders, and participants.

Before you register, review the roles and responsibilities for City staff, group leaders, and participants.

City staff:

Group leaders (18+):

Group participants:

can include family, friends, neighbours, schools, faith groups or corporate teams
should be at least 14 years old (recommended)
must sign a consent form; children under 18 must be listed under a guardian
take part in moderate physical activity, including bending, lifting, digging, pushing wheelbarrows and walking on uneven terrain

Follow these guidelines to keep activities safe for everyone.

Personal safety:

Park safety:

stay within park boundaries
watch for hazards like uneven ground, branches, stinging plants and insects, or slippery areas near water
suspend activities during unsafe weather conditions, such as thunderstorms

Litter cleanup safety:

pick up litter only
use special bags and gloves provided
if you're organizing your own clean-up, report cleanup results using the instructions in your supply kit
Don’t pick up:
- sharp items (glass, metal, objects that could cut)
- needles or syringes – contact 519-886-1550 during business hours or email sharpscleanup@waterloo.ca
- hazardous waste (batteries, propane tanks, paints, solvents, chemicals)
- bulky or unstable objects, such as furniture
- active or abandoned campsites or shelters

How to report dangerous dumping:

for registered cleanups, follow instructions in your supply kit to report results
use the Report an Issue form to report dumping, large litter issues or active or abandoned campsites or shelters