What to buy for a litter relay

A litter relay needs more than litter pickers and collection bags. You need clear route materials, visible safety equipment, sorting and weighing supplies, and a simple setup for registration and refreshments. Plan quantities around the number of teams, the route length and the time participants will be outside. This list helps you check the practical items before shopping, so you are not looking for markers, cups or first aid supplies on the event day.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 24
Foldable tablesqty 2

Waste collection

Litter pickersqty 40
Reusable waste binsqty 20
Sorting traysqty 6
Scalesqty 2
Waste cartsqty 4

Safety

Safety vestsqty 30
Safety gogglesqty 30
First aid kitsqty 2
Conesqty 20
Rolls of barrier tapeqty 4

Communication

Walkie-talkiesqty 8
Megaphone
Route mapsqty 25
Clipboardsqty 8
Markersqty 20
Ballpoint pensqty 30
Participant signsqty 6

Catering

Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Reusable cupsqty 120
Reusable platesqty 100
Reusable cutleryqty 100
Cratesqty 12

Cleaning

Broomqty 3
Eye-catchersqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 3
Folding sinksqty 2

Groceries

Groceries
- Trash bags 120 liters - 150 pieces
- Nitrile work gloves - 120 pairs
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea bags - 200 pieces
- Semi-skimmed milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Spa Blauw - 8 crates
- Spa Red - 3 crates
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Sandwiches - 120 pieces
- Butter - 3 packs
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Ham - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Apples - 100 pieces
- Bananas - 60 pieces
- Muesli bars - 120 pieces
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 10 pieces
- Cleaning cloths - 20 pieces
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls

Tips

Give each team a complete kit before the start: litter pickers, safety vests, route maps, a clipboard and pens. Prepare one spare kit for damaged or forgotten equipment.
Plan one pair of safety goggles per person working near roads, dense vegetation or dusty waste, plus at least one first aid kit at the start and another with the route team.
Use separate reusable waste bins or sorting trays for each waste category, and add one scale and one waste cart at every collection or exchange point where waste is weighed.
Bring one participant sign for the start and each exchange point, and laminate route maps before the event. Pack extra markers and pens because registration and route marking use more than expected.
For refreshments, allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then adjust for the event length. Bring enough reusable cups, plates and cutlery for the full group, plus crates and coolers to move supplies safely.

Frequently asked questions

How many litter pickers do I need for a litter relay?: Plan one litter picker per participant who will collect waste, plus 10% spare equipment. For 30 participants, that means 33 litter pickers. Check every picker before packing the team kits.
How many safety vests should I buy for a litter relay?: Provide one safety vest for every participant and volunteer working along the route, with at least 10% extra. For 30 participants and 6 route volunteers, prepare at least 40 vests so replacements are available.
How much drinking water do I need for a litter relay?: Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add one drink per person for each additional hour. Pack the drinks in coolers and crates at least one day before the event if they need chilling.
What should I bring to sort and weigh collected litter?: Bring reusable waste bins or sorting trays for each waste category, at least one scale per weighing point, and one waste cart per active collection point. Test the scales and label the sorting areas before participants arrive.

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