What you need for a waste collection drive

A waste collection drive needs more than litter pickers and bags. You will need safety gear for every participant, collection and sorting equipment for each route zone, and a clear registration point at the start. Plan refreshments separately so coffee, tea and water are available throughout the activity. This shopping list also covers route support, first aid, lighting and cleanup items that are easy to arrange too late.

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What to bring

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

Safety

Safety vestsqty 55
Work glovesqty 60
Safety gogglesqty 20
First aid kit
Hand sanitizer dispensersqty 4

Collection

Litter pickersqty 50
Bucketsqty 12
Sorting traysqty 8
Scaleqty 2
Scoopsqty 6
Broom setsqty 6
Tarpsqty 4

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 12

Equipment

Megaphone
Walkie-talkiesqty 8

Lighting

LED lampsqty 6

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 80
Reusable platesqty 60
Reusable cutleryqty 60

Catering

Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 6
Water dispensersqty 3
Serving bowlsqty 4
Groceries
- Drinking water - 60 bottles
- Sparkling water - 24 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange juice - 8 packs
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Stirrers - 100 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- White bread - 6 loaves
- Vegan bread - 2 loaves
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Aged cheese - 2 kilo
- Turkey breast - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Apples - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 50 pieces
- Muesli bars - 60 pieces
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Trash bags - 250 pieces
- Knot bags - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 2 packs
- Cleaning cloths - 2 packs

Cleaning

Trash grabbersqty 4
Cleaning bucketsqty 4
Waste grabbers for sanitationqty 2

Registration

Clipboardsqty 8
Pensqty 30
Route mapsqty 60
Registration formsqty 60
Name stickersqty 80

Information

Route signsqty 12
Waste stream labelsqty 12
Conesqty 20

Tips

Provide one safety vest and one pair of work gloves per participant, plus spare gloves for replacements. Keep safety goggles available wherever sorting or handling sharp waste is expected.
Allow at least one litter picker per participant and add buckets, sorting trays and tarps for each team or route zone. Confirm the number of zones before buying or collecting shared equipment.
Set aside one registration kit for the start point: a clipboard, pens and printed route maps, with enough copies for every team leader. Prepare these at least one day before the drive.
Plan one first aid kit and hand sanitizer at the collection point, then place extra sanitizer dispensers where teams return or sort waste. Keep the first aid kit accessible rather than packed in a storage box.
For a two-hour drive, prepare water for the full group and use thermos flasks for coffee and tea. Bring reusable cups, plates and cutlery, and arrange coolers before participants arrive.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need for a waste collection drive?: Bring safety vests, work gloves, safety goggles, a first aid kit and hand sanitizer, along with litter pickers, buckets, sorting trays and tarps. You also need registration supplies, route maps, refreshments and equipment for marking and managing the collection point.
How many litter pickers and safety vests do I need?: Plan one litter picker, one safety vest and one pair of gloves per participant. Add at least 10% spare gloves and vests where possible, especially if the drive lasts more than two hours or includes children.
What should I prepare for the registration desk?: Prepare one clipboard, several pens and one printed participant list, plus route maps for every team or zone leader. Set up the desk at least 30 minutes before registration opens so late printing does not delay the briefing.
How much water and coffee should I bring for the cleanup?: For a two-hour activity, plan roughly 1 litre of drinking water per person, with extra water in warm weather. For coffee and tea, prepare enough for one drink per person at the start and keep additional hot drinks in thermos flasks.

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