Here is a list of activities that your group may want to think about. Some require a little planning and effort, others require a lot.

• Look at local needs
• Organize a clean-up
• Organize a litter hunt
• Sponsor trash pick up
• Do the work yourselves
• Post signs
• Produce or sponsor local public service announcements

Look at local needs

Many community and environmental groups sponsor and organize clean ups in communities across Canada. Participating by helping them organize, or by providing a group of volunteers are a couple simple ways to contribute as a group. Check out the Directory of Organizations for a community or environmental group near you.

Organize a clean up

Many groups offer plans to organize a clean up in your community, be it a beach, park, school yard, or street. Check out the Directory of Organizations for a group near you, or visit the WILD Education: Organize a Beach Sweep page of the Canadian Wildlife Federation for information on how to organize and conduct a clean up. Large or small, you need to think about some basics: your clean-up site, how people can get there, what people need to do, promotion and advertising, safety (from using sun block to avoiding dangerous items), what to do with what you collect, as well as possible costs and raising funds.

Organize a litter hunt

Litter hunts are similar to clean ups, but involve some more detective work. Ideal for a class project, after a site is cleaned up, selected items are taken and studied by your group to figure out where they came from. This also may be a fun family project. (So, where did that wierd object come from?...)

Sponsor trash pick up

Many places such as harbours, beaches, marinas or parks can be easily provided with facilities to deal with garbage. It is maintaining them that's the problem. Sponsoring collection costs is one way your group can contribute. As a community organization or business, you may wish to contribute directly or raise funds. For some, this can be as simple as donating a vehicle to carry the collected trash to the local landfill. Landfill tip fees should be discussed with your local town sanitation department.

Pick-up collected trash

If your group cannot sponsor trash collection in your harbour, beach, marina or park, your group may be able do it yourselves. You need to look at the volumes generated, a few garbage cans a day may be serviced by a pick up truck, but greater volumes may need larger capacity vehicles. Landfill tip fees should be discussed with your local town sanitation department and do not forget saftey needs.

Post signs

You may have many facilities to deal with trash in your community but they may not be used. Are people aware of them? Are people aware of the marine debris problem in your community? One simple approach to promote good practices is to post signs where they will be seen and read. Several groups have materials available to assist such projects. Things your group may need to think about include: what is your message, who needs to get your message, where can your message be posted (location and permission), and costs for printing or buying signs.

Produce or sponsor local public service announcements

Sometimes signs are not enough. Annoucements on radio, television or in magazines or newspapers can be effective. Your group may have the resources to produce such announcements and your local media may be willing to assist your group to get your message out. This could be ideal for a community college or civic club.