Contents

• Cleanup Organizing Tips from KRB
• Cleanup Safety Checklist
• Cleanup Liability Release and Sign-In
• Notes on Litter from Keep Rockland Beautiful (Our Manifesto...)

Cleanup Organizing Tips

We hope you will consider organizing a litter cleanup in your neighborhood, near your business or as close to your neighborhood or business as possible.  Cleanups can be of any size. Following these guidelines and getting support from Keep Rockland Beautiful will insure that your group will have a half-day of fun and rewarding work that will benefit the community and the natural environment. 

Plan Ahead:

• Find a littered area you would like to clean up. Assess safety of site. If needed, obtain permission from private landowners.
• Set meeting time, date, and location. Plan a rain date.
• Recruit a core group of friends to volunteer, and then use posters (samples available from KRB) and word-of-mouth to bring in more people.
• Register your cleanup with Keep Rockland Beautiful to receive free t-shirts or patches, trash bags, campaign signs, etc. Buy or borrow some litter grabbers from KRB to make the work easier. Ask for help if you need it.
• Supplies can be picked up at the Kick Off Event or at Keep Rockland Beautiful, 10 Maple Ave, New City, NY, the week before your cleanup event. Please call us at 845-708-9165 to let us know that you are coming.
• You may also wish to purchase inexpensive latex/latex-free gloves from a Home Depot or another supply store.

Day of Cleanup:

• Bring water, snacks, a phone, sunscreen, shirts, bags, grabbers, safety checklist, and a first aid kit.
• Welcome and thank volunteers and orient them to the area to be cleaned. Using the sign-in/ liability waiver sheet enhances safety awareness (and our mailing list!). Review the safety checklist with your volunteers.
• Do your cleanup. Place full garbage bags within 5 ft. of  the road for pick up by the local Highway Dept.  If you bag recyclables separately (a nice thing to do!), put them out with your regular curbside pickup.
• Phone in or e-mail (krbpc@aol.com) your bag locations to KRB following your cleanup and we will notify the proper authorities for pickup.
• Gather for a snack and sharing of discoveries. Take a GROUP PHOTO for the KRB website!
• Invite your volunteers to the Volunteer Appreciation Reception, 6 pm, May 16, American Legion Hall, Rte. 304 & Congers Rd., New City, to enjoy a free buffet dinner, slideshow, and cleanup tall tales. Please RSVP to KRB.
• File your Cleanup Report form with KRB, if possible on-line at www.keeprocklandbeautiful.org.

Cleanup Safety Checklist

• Designate a safety officer whose only responsibility is safety and trouble-shooting. This person should have a first aid kit, a cell phone, and a list of emergency phone numbers.
• Review this safety checklist with volunteers before they get to work.
• Ask volunteers to sign the liability release/sign-in sheet – this is probably the best way to direct their attention to the need to follow safety rules.
• Supervise children closely
• Dress properly, wear heavy shoes and long pants, gloves, use sun screen and insect repellent when appropriate.
• Drink plenty of fluids, avoid over-exertion, get help with large objects, do not pick up anything dangerous.
• Do not overstuff bags or pickup anything that could be hazardous to your health.
• Do not rough-house or otherwise distract motorists
• When near a road, wear orange vests, work in groups, face on-coming traffic.
• Wash hands after the cleanup.
• Check yourself for ticks.
• Be aware of poison ivy (and other allergic reactions)

Tip: Use the paragraph below at the top of a sign-in sheet on the day of your cleanup accomplishes three things: 1) it helps raise safety awareness in a timely way, 2) it collects vital contact info you and KRB can use next time around -- if you send us a copy, and 3) it helps prevent lawsuits. By the way, few cleanup leaders actually use this tool and nobody we know has ever been sued by a volunteer.

Cleanup Liability Release and Sign-In

The undersigned, recognizing and assuming all risks of accident and injury, hereby agrees that the following sponsors: Keep Rockland Beautiful, ________________________________ _____________________________ will not be liable or legally responsible for any injury sustained by the participant, or for loss or damage to property owned or in the possession of the participant during, or as a result of, participation in the cleanup project at _________________________ (location) on _________________________ (date) whether such injury or property damage is caused by the negligence of the sponsors or their respective employees, officers, agents, or otherwise.

Name    (print)                  Mailing Address ___             Telephone  & E-Mail     _____   KRB Mailing List Y/N

(you add extra lines to fill out the page below this header...)

Notes on Litter from Keep Rockland Beautiful

Why is litter bad? Litter is ugly, it pollutes the environment, it reduces property values and tourism, it invites more litter and worse crime, and it is expensive to clean up. Litter is demoralizing – it shows a corrosive lack of respect for the land and community.

Why do people litter? There are three basic reasons, according to the national litter prevention organization Keep America Beautiful: 1) they feel no sense of ownership over public space; 2) they believe somebody will pick-up after them; and/or 3) they see accumulated litter already in place.

Where and how do people litter? Drivers and pedestrians litter deliberately, but other primary sources of litter are: uncovered, overfilled trash and recycling containers and improper bulk put outs; messy commercial dumpsters and loading docks; untidy construction sites; uncovered truck loads; illegal dumping. Wind, water and animals then move litter until it snags on roadside bushes, invades previously clean properties, and clogs storm drains and culverts.

How do we stop litter? There are three basic approaches to litter prevention: 1) organized cleanups; 2) public education; and 3) enforcement of litter and property maintenance laws. Public policy plays a role, such as New York's Returnable Container Act (bottle deposit law).

Why do we do cleanups?  Cleanups have a direct positive impact on the environment and the community, helping to reduce pollution, deter future littering, increase environmental awareness, and build pride in community. Seeing litter return to cleaned areas is frustrating, so remember: judge your success by the positive example you set, not just the amount of litter you remove.

What is Keep Rockland Beautiful doing to reduce litter?

We are a small, nonprofit, membership organization concerned with litter prevention and beautification in Rockland, affiliated with Keep America Beautiful. Please join us!

Cleanups: Providing clearinghouse services to local cleanup groups involved with Great American Cleanup and Great River Sweep. Support for Adopt-a-Highway Program. Raising money to buy t-shirts for volunteers.

Education: School programs; letters to the editor; radio, newspaper and television PR for Great American Cleanup; presentations to civic organizations; parades; advocacy.

Enforcement: Working to boost police enforcement of litter laws and citizen reporting of litter problems.

Beautification: Public art such as trash can painting.