Spring Sweep is our largest event of the year and part of the annual Great Lakes CleanUP, where we are joined by volunteers across the Great Lakes region in removing litter from our shorelines and protecting our waterways. Registration opens to the public in March – stay tuned! Learn more about the Cleanups Program at our frequently asked questions page here.
Are you interested in volunteering to cleanup before or after the Spring Sweep? Check out our Solo Sweep page to do a cleanup any day that works for you!
Cleanups 2023
Spring Sweep 2023, part of the Great Lakes Cleanup, was April 22 on Earth Day. We officially launched our digital data collection efforts by using the Clean Swell App which directly connects the information we collect here locally to the Ocean Conservancy’s largest marine debris database in the world, TIDES. This allows our data to be instantly accessible and helps to support our work to address the root causes of litter pollution here locally and globally.
The Sweep was also part of the Great Lakes CleanUP, a week long trash removal effort created in partnership with 18 other groups and organizations from around the Great Lakes basin. In WNY, cleanup sites were throughout the Niagara River Watershed for volunteers to work collectively with folks around the basin to stop thousands of pounds of litter from polluting our waterways. The Great Lakes is the drinking water resource for over 40 million people and we are excited to lead this region-wide stewardship event.
Cleanup pro tip: bring your own bucket to save on a trash bag and make data collection a breeze!
Continue Cleanups
Take the solo sweep pledge to continue to make an impact.
Plastic pollution is negatively impacting our water – locally and globally. Our sweeps are one important way to protect our waterways. Learn how to reduce your single-use plastic consumption by following us on social media.
