News Release: April 25, 2025 - City of Toronto launches 20th annual Clean Toronto Together spring cleanup campaign
Clean Toronto Together is celebrating its 20th year of keeping Toronto clean and green. The campaign invites Toronto residents and community groups, schools, and businesses to help clean public spaces after a long winter.
April 25-27, 2025 - Clean Toronto Together
Highlights for 2025
- Clean Toronto Together is Toronto’s annual spring cleanup campaign.
- The cleanup takes place on April 25 to 27.
- Community groups, families, individuals, and businesses can participate by registering a litter cleanup in a City of Toronto park.
- Everyone is encouraged to only spend 20 minutes picking up litter.
- The City does not organize litter cleanup events.
- The City does not provide litter cleanup supplies or tools.
- Private property cleanups and yard waste collections are not permitted.
- Registration is open from March 17 to April 23 at toronto.ca/cleantoronto.
Important Information for 2025:
- Litter cleanups are a self-led activity.
- City staff do not organize or attend cleanups.
- City staff will not provide tools, supplies or validate volunteer hours.
- Safety tips, litter sorting and other guidance will be provided to all registered participants.
- There are no rain dates.
- Registration is not mandatory but is encourage so that the City can track areas cleaned, manage double bookings and recognize the efforts of volunteers.
How to Organize a Park Cleanup:
- Complete the online registration between March 17 to April 23.
- Choose an approved cleanup location such as a park, ravine or beach.
- Pick a day that’s convenient for you: Friday, April 25, Saturday, April 26 or Sunday, April 27.
- Determine a start time. Mornings are the best time to avoid crowds.
- Gather supplies for your cleanup, such as litter bags, gloves, trash grabbers (optional), hand sanitizer and water/snacks.
- City staff will contact you to confirm your cleanup location and arrange for special litter collection, if required.
Why do I have to register my event?
- To schedule special litter pick-up of litter and recycling, if required.
- To receive safety and litter disposal instructions.
- Avoid multiple groups cleaning the same location and.
- arrange City approvals, if required.
What are the special litter collection rules?
- The City will only approve free litter collection to registered cleanup events.
- Applicants must register their cleanups before the registration closing dates.
- Special litter collection is for group who collect more than 5 full bags of litter.
- The City will not collect yard waste.
- The City will not collect garbage from private properties.
- It can take up to 24-48 hours after the cleanup to collect the litter bags.
Clean Toronto Together does not provide:
- garbage or yard waste bags.
- gloves, tools or cleaning equipment.
- shirts or safety gear.
- free park permits for larger events.
- staff to attend cleanup events.
Can I schedule a litter cleanup after the Clean Toronto Together event?
- Groups can request a litter cleanup anytime between May to November
- Contact cleantoronto@toronto.ca for more information.
Safety tips for a litter cleanup
- Wear appropriate clothing and protection (long pants, long sleeves, boots, gloves, rain jacket, hat, sunscreen and insect repellent). Learn how to avoid tick bites.
- Bring a first aid kit; students should be accompanied by a person trained in first aid.
- Be mindful of vehicles when near or adjacent to a road.
- Do not work on unstable or slippery ground (ravines, river banks), in tunnels, or near stormwater management ponds.
- Only pick up litter. Leaves, twigs and plants can remain on the ground.
- Avoid stepping on shrubs, bulbs and flowers.
- Do not pick up or move heavy objects such as tree limbs.
- Do not pick up animal waste.
- Do not pick up needles or other dangerous items (e.g. syringes, metal, chemicals, medical waste). Report the location of these items to 311.
- Hazardous waste such as batteries, aerosol containers, lights and light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, helium and propane tanks/cylinders should be set aside from recycling and litter and disposed of at a City Drop-Off Depot or Community Environment Day.
- Report suspicious items to Toronto Police Service via their non-emergency telephone number at 416-808-2222.
