Our mission is to inspire, educate and empower everyone to go litter picking to clean up their community!

GoLitterPicking.org was founded by seasoned Litter Pickers to simply inspire, educate and empower everyone to go litter picking. This is accomplished by:

1. Providing the most effective method for cleanups known as the 6P’s of Litter Picking;

2. Providing free downloadable PDF InfoGuides as a comprehensive source of litter picking information.

Simply put - it’s just a good thing to do.

And although there are three main reasons for picking up litter including environmental preservation, community enhancement, and personal well-being, there are many benefits of picking up litter. Whatever your “Why”, we would be very grateful for you to Go Litter Picking!

ALL OF US! We all live together on this planet and it is each of our responsibility to keep it clean.  You can do your part by picking up litter in your local community and set a positive example for others to follow.  For each piece of litter, you can choose to ignore it or to pick it up. Be the good person that picks it up.

Although it depends on many factors (such as type of event, location, size and amount of litter, proximity to public trash bins, number of participants, etc.) we recommend following the 6Ps of Litter Picking for best efficiency, safety and results.

The most effective method to create a significant impact is to follow the 6P’s of Litter Picking.  A big part of making the most impact is to have others join you. And posting your litter picking efforts will encourage others to make a difference too!

Yes, you can get practical advice and information for beginners by reading our InfoGuide Litter Picking Tips and Hacks. Our InfoGuides - and these FAQs - will answer many questions you may have if you are looking to start litter picking.

And for experienced pickers, you might just find something new and useful here on our website and in our InfoGuides too.

Absolutely! For teens and adults, litter picking on your own gives you the freedom to choose the time and place to target litter issues that may not be addressed by local municipalities or by organized cleanup events.

You can start by adopting your own neighborhood or a favorite spot and keep it clean on a regular basis.  You can gather others to help you pick up litter and make an even greater impact.  Younger kids need adult supervision.  Follow the 6P’s of Litter Picking for the best method and results. 

We also encourage people to go to organized cleanup events to gain valuable skills and experience to then go litter picking on their own. Always be safe when litter picking!

For most places, yes.  Most public areas can be cleaned up by volunteers on their own time as long as it is safe to do so.  For litter picking on private property, you would need to get permission from the owner ahead of time, preferably in writing. Some states may require permits for picking up litter along certain roadways or other particular locations.

Let them know you are passionate about cleaning up your community and are looking for them to join you for this fun and rewarding activity. Litter picking is good for your physical and mental health, and is very satisfying knowing you are helping the community, the environment and nature.  Point them to GoLitterPicking.org to learn more.

Yes, for sure! Follow the 6P’s of Litter Picking, read our other useful InfoGuides and use our Forms and Posters to help plan and execute your own litter picking event. Celebrate afterwards with a visit to a local establishment, have a barbeque or other fun activity.  Report your results and post your efforts on social media to spread the word. Be sure to mention GoLitterPicking.org!

Safety is always the number one priority when cleaning up litter!  Read our InfoGuide on Litter Picking Safety for a comprehensive summary.  Remember, you are responsible for keeping yourself and others under your supervision safe at all times.

Yes, but you will need to keep a sharp eye on them at all times, use common sense, and follow special safety considerations for kids outlined in our InfoGuide on Litter Picking Safety. Children under 5 are not recommended to participate.  About an hour is a good amount of time to spend when litter picking with kids.

For organized cleanup events, please don’t bring pets as they may distract participants or hinder cleanup efforts.  For self-led litter picking the choice is up to you. Picking up litter while walking your dog is a popular activity.

For more information about litter cleanups in your local community in the U.S., visit Keep America Beautiful at KAB.org and find your local chapter. For other countries, perform a web search for litter cleanup organizations where volunteers are needed to help their cause.

No, but using the Core4 Kit of essential items (Litter Grabber Tool, 5 Gallon Bucket lined with a Plastic Trash Bag, and Protective Work Gloves) is the best way for most people to pick up litter easily, efficiently and safely. Never pick up litter with your bare hands. Read our InfoGuide on Litter Picking Equipment and Supplies for more information.

Choose a litter grabber tool that is the right length for your height and fits your litter picking plans and budget. For best results, we recommend several litter grabbers and other items you’ll need in our InfoGuide Litter Picking Equipment and Supplies.

For each outing, we recommend about 1-2 hours for adults or about 1 hour when kids are participating. Many factors can affect the duration of your picking session such as weather conditions, experience, fitness level, stamina, target location, size of target area, amount of litter, number of participants, and the size of litter you want to collect. Just don’t overdo it.

We recommend disposing of collected litter and recyclables in public bins or dumpsters near your target area. Asking for permission to discard the litter in private waste bins is also an option. If there is only a small amount of litter collected and there are no nearby public bins, you may wish to dispose of it in your personal waste and recycling bins.  For larger collections or events, coordinate with local authorities or waste management services to ensure proper disposal and recycling.

Yes, but you can only recycle items that are clean, either when found or by washing them. This is very important so that you do not contaminate the recycled materials stream.

Yes, you can get practical advice and information by reading our InfoGuide on Litter Picking Tips and Hacks. We always welcome suggestions to add to our list so please contact us!

Although there are many benefits to litter picking, there are also some challenges. These include physical risk, time and effort needed, the fact that it is an incomplete solution (doesn’t address the root cause), the reliance on volunteers to do the work, and the limited or temporary impact it may have. But the pros greatly outweigh the cons so don’t let them stop you!

Litter picking has some inherent risks and you accept all liability and must keep yourself and others under your supervision safe at all times, whether it’s on your own or at an organized event. Organized events will require you to sign a liability release waiver. GoLitterPicking.org is not legally liable for any personal injury or damage that may occur from participating in litter picking activities.