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How Does This Work?

Do you just walk around and pick up trash?

A Typical Event:

  • Show up at the set meeting place - usually the first Sunday of every month at 11am
  • We will give out the grabbers, holders, bags, gloves and instructions
  • Explore the neighborhood and pick up trash
  • Return the equipment and stick around for the optional post-event socializing

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We will keep you up to date on upcoming cleanups and all of our volunteer opportunities

  • Volunteers in Shirlington ready to clean up the neighborhood
  • A group of volunteers in Clarendon ready to clean up the neighborhood
  • Volunteers celebrating a successful cleanup at Courthaus Social in Arlington
  • A cleanup event on Columbia Pike in Arlington
  • Upton Park in Arlington getting cleaned up by NOVA Cleanups volunteers
  • Volunteers celebrating 2 years of cleaning up neighborhoods
  • NOVA Cleanups volunteers at an East Falls Church event
  • Volunteers in Crystal City by the metro stop ready to clean up the neighborhood
  • Volunteers in Courthouse neighborhood ready to clean up Arlington
  • Group pic in front of the Old Town Alexandria metro stop ready to clean up
  • Volunteers for NOVA Cleanups wearing pinneys ready to clean up Falls Church
  • Tysons Corner cleanup volunteers group photo
  • Volunteers under an overpass at East Falls Church metro stop ready to pick litter
  • Volunteers in front of Clarendon metro stop ready for a NOVA Cleanups event
  • Group pic of NOVA Cleanups volunteers at Potomac Yard metro stop
  • Cleanup volunteers ready to pick litter in Crystal City, Arlington
  • Volunteers at Occocquan park for a cleanup event
  • Group pic of the first ever NOVA cleanup event
  • Group photo volunteers after cleanup August 2024
  • Volunteers at a Crystal City cleanup in April 2024

Our Upcoming Events

See our upcoming cleanup events and find one that suits your schedule! Be sure to check back as we are always looking to add more events. Have a suggestion? Just let us know!

FAQs

After some experimenting, we found that doing a cleanup on the first Sunday of every month at 11am works best. We're great at sticking to this schedule (rain or shine!) and choose a different neighborhood every month. On our anniversary cleanups that we host together with District Cleanups we will often choose a special date. 

NOVA Cleanups provides the necessary cleanup equipment on a first come first serve basis, although you're more than welcome to bring your own gloves, trash bags, and grabbers!

Absolutely! Our events are open to all volunteers - regardless of age.

Well behaved pups on leashes are welcome to come help sniff out the trash! It can be difficult to hold a leash, grabber and trash bag so a friend or partner is helpful.

Let us know if you have any additional questions or idea please reach out!

NOVA Cleanups' mission is to create communities and provide a way to deepen bonds in existing ones. Volunteers will beautify spaces people see every day, working alongside friends, partners, the NOVA Cleanups organizers and regular volunteers while connecting with new people from all over Northern Virginia. 

The NOVA Cleanups vision is to exist in a world where organized cleanups are no longer necessary. We understand that there's more to an ideal community than one without noticeable litter, and community ownership is a reflection of a collective desire to keep our communities clean, safe and welcoming for all residents - not just the humans.

Donate

We're an all volunteer effort, and while the costs are low we are thankful for donations that help us put these events on. We're also a 501c3 non-profit and your support helps us put grabbers in as many hands as possible!

​EIN: 88-2621722 

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