What you need for a litter pick-up day

A litter pick-up day needs more than bags and gloves. You will need equipment for collecting waste, clear route materials, visible safety gear, handwashing facilities and a simple registration point. Plan quantities around the number of volunteers and the length of the route. The items below help you prepare for marking waste zones, sorting waste streams, weighing collected rubbish and keeping teams safe from setup through final collection.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 60
Tableclothsqty 6

Equipment

Litter pickersqty 30
Hand trucksqty 4
Digital scalesqty 2
Megaphone
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Waste binsqty 12
Broom setsqty 4
Eye-catchersqty 4
Work glovesqty 60
Handwashing stationsqty 2

Safety

Safety vestsqty 30
Safety gogglesqty 30
First aid kitsqty 2
Flashlightsqty 8

Lighting

Battery lampsqty 6

Decorations

Information boardsqty 6
Route arrowsqty 20
Barrier tapeqty 4
Chalkboardsqty 4

Office

Clipboardsqty 10
Pensqty 30
Markersqty 12
Route mapsqty 60
Attendance formsqty 10

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 80
Reusable platesqty 60
Reusable cutleryqty 60

Kitchen

Food warmersqty 4
Serving spoonsqty 6
Cutting boardsqty 3
Kitchen knivesqty 3
Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Coffee milk - 6 packs
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Stirrers - 100 pieces
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Whole milk - 4 liter
- Sandwiches - 80 pieces
- Mini wraps - 40 pieces
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Aged cheese - 1 kilo
- Shoulder ham - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Herb cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Salty sticks - 4 bags
- Mixed nuts - 3 bags
- Muesli bars - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 5 kilo
- Apples - 5 kilo
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Vegetarian pasta salad - 5 kilo
- Chicken wrap filling - 3 kilos
- Vegetarian wrap filling - 3 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 150 pieces
- Small trash bags - 50 pieces
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Cleaning wipes - 3 packs
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls

Tips

Allow one pair of work gloves and one litter picker per volunteer, plus at least 10% spare equipment for replacements or late arrivals. Add safety goggles for anyone working near brambles, traffic or loose debris.
Prepare one route map and one attendance form per team, then print at least 10 extra maps for misplaced copies and new participants. Use route arrows, markers and barrier tape to make meeting points and waste zones visible.
Provide one waste container for each waste stream at the sorting point, with clear information boards or chalkboards showing where each type of rubbish goes. Arrange collection before the event so full containers are not left on site.
Set up a registration table with clipboards and pens, and place handwashing stations where volunteers return from the route. A practical starting point is one station for every 25 to 30 people.
Check lighting before volunteers arrive, especially if setup or collection runs into low light. Battery lamps and flashlights cover dark areas, while extension cords and power strips should only be used where they can stay dry and out of walkways.

Frequently asked questions

How many litter pickers and gloves do I need per person?: Plan one litter picker and one pair of work gloves per volunteer. Add at least 10% spare items, so a group of 30 people needs about 33 complete sets.
How many route maps should I print for a litter pick-up day?: Print one map per team and keep 10 extra copies available. For 6 teams, prepare at least 16 maps, especially if people may join at the registration desk.
How many waste bins are needed for a litter pick-up event?: Use at least one waste bin or container for each waste stream you plan to separate. Add one spare container when the route is large or collection is scheduled more than 2 hours after the final teams return.
When should I arrange waste collection?: Confirm waste collection at least 7 days before the event, including the number and type of containers. Reconfirm the pickup time 24 to 48 hours before volunteers arrive so collected rubbish is not left unattended.

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