What better way to teach your child(ren) about the importance of caring for our world and the environment than to get them outdoors taking action! Register as a family and/or get your neighbourhood involved in Cleaning the Capital 2022!
What is Cleaning the Capital?
The Cleaning the Capital campaign is a citywide cleanup that occurs in the spring and fall of every year. Residents come together as a community and combine efforts to make our city clean and green. Litter pickup projects must be registered, and participating teams, upon request, receive a cleanup starter kit to assist them with their projects.
2022 marks the 29th year of the Cleaning the Capital Program! The annual cleanup campaign first began in 1994 as a springtime cleanup. In 2006, due to the spring campaign's overwhelming success an annual fall campaign was added. Since 1994, more than 1.6 million volunteers have participated in nearly 30,000 cleanup projects throughout the city. As a result, an estimated 1,350,000 kilograms of waste has been removed from our public spaces.
The Cleaning the Capital Program is not-for-profit initiative and relies heavily on the generosity of sponsors who offer financial and in-kind support. Cleaning the Capital is an exciting way for residents to foster community pride by cleaning up their parks, bus stops, woodlots, ravines, shorelines and pathways, while enjoying the outdoors and ensuring that Ottawa stays clean, green, and litter-free.
What is my registration code? How can I obtain it?
Your Cleaning the Capital registration code is provided to you in an e-mail upon confirmation of your registration. It is used to submit your Cleanup Report at the end of your project. You may also find your registration code on the Kit Packing Sheet which accompanies your cleanup kit. If you have misplaced your registration code, please contact us.
What types of projects are available?
Litter pickup projects in public spaces can be registered through the Cleaning the Capital program. Choose to clean our precious green spaces and community parks, roadsides, and shorelines, or choose to clean areas around bus shelters by picking up litter and cigarette butts.
Does Cleaning the Capital include shoreline cleanups?
Absolutely! Ottawa has 4,500 kilometres of streams and rivers and that doesn’t include our lakes, ponds and wetlands. Our incredible wealth of water environments calls on us as residents to be shoreline stewards. What happens on shorelines affects the quality of the water and the life it supports. If you do sign up to clean a stretch of shoreline that you love, remember that the focus is only on human litter. Leave natural elements like logs and branches in place. If you would like some guidance in picking a priority stretch of shoreline, please contact your local conservation authority:
- Rideau Valley Conservation Authority: citystreamwatch@rvca.ca(link sends e-mail)
- South Nation Conservation Authority: jmesman@nation.on.ca(link sends e-mail)
- Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority: sogrady@mvc.on.ca (link sends e-mail)
You can also take part in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.(link is external)
Cleaning cigarette butts
Cigarette butts are litter too. They are not recyclable and they do not biodegrade. They are toxic and can take up to 12 years to breakdown. Remember to include picking up cigarette butts as part of your cleanup project. Make sure to wear gloves and to dispose of them in the garbage. If you are cleaning a paved area, use a broom and dust pan to sweep up the cigarette butts. If you are cleaning a grassy area, use a rake.
Resources:
- City of Ottawa litter resources
- Cigarette butts and their impact on the environment(link is external)PDF opens in a new tab or window
What is included in a cleanup kit?
- Litter Pickup Starter Kits include: Gloves and garbage bags.
Cleanup starter kits are designed to get you started on your project and our generous sponsors donate the supplies. While we cannot provide unlimited supplies to volunteers, we will do our very best to ensure that you have enough supplies to complete your project. Cleanup starter kits are individually packed for each project team based on the number of volunteers you have registered.
What if I can’t find a project team?
If you can’t find a project team, try to make one yourself! Tell your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about your plans. Try approaching your community or neighbourhood association and asking if the whole community wants to get involved. Ask around at your children's school or your workplace or community centre.
If you still can't find a team, don't worry; many of our long-time Cleaning the Capital volunteers make an impact each and every year all by themselves. All it takes is one person to make a difference.
Student volunteer hours
Cleaning the Capital is a great opportunity for high school students to get a head start on their Community Involvement Program volunteer hours. Students must simply:
- Register their cleanup online during the campaign.
- Complete their cleanup project.
- Submit their cleanup report prior to the submission deadline.
- Contact us(link sends e-mail) to obtain a letter supporting their participation in the Cleaning the Capital campaign.
For more information visit: https://ottawa.ca/en/living-ottawa/environment-conservation-and-climate/community-environmental-and-beautification-programs/cleaning-capital-program
