Collect, Count, and Advocate
Tracking litter data to empower real solutions through cleanups across Western New York.
Spring Sweep
Every April we host one of the largest cleanup events in the Western New York region – the Spring Sweep. Registration opens in March, sign up for our newsletter to get updates!
Solo Sweep
Interested in volunteering to cleanup before or after the Spring Sweep? Participate in a Solo Sweep anywhere, anytime, and track your findings.
What is a Solo Sweep?
A Solo Sweep is a cleanup effort organized by an individual or small group that is completed without BNW’s direct coordination, although we are always here for support! You can clean up anywhere, anytime, and track the litter you find using the Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app.
Remember, you must use BNW in your group name (ie. BNW Smith Family) so we can track your efforts as a Solo Sweep!
A key component of our cleanups is not only removing litter, but also tracking the types of litter using the Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app, which directly connects the information we collect here locally to the largest marine debris database in the world, TIDES.
This allows our data to be instantly publicly accessible and helps to support our work to address the root causes of litter pollution here locally and globally.
Will you join us in this effort by participating in your own Solo Sweep?
Why is it important to track litter you find?
Data is power! We know litter pollution threatens our drinking water, wildlife, the health of our ecosystems, and our economy – which is why we dedicate our time to remove it – but we can never solve the issue without data.
Thanks to the litter data collected by cleanup volunteers like yourself, we can track the types, location, and quantity of trash being found throughout our watershed. We can use this data to support, fund, and empower community driven solutions that address local issues, while connecting us to leaders around the world dedicated to eliminating litter pollution.
Litter data can also strengthen policy initiatives focused on holding producers accountable and banning specific types of waste like the recently passed polystyrene foam ban and the plastic bag ban in New York State. It also was instrumental for the New York Attorney General in bringing a case against PepsiCo. for litter found throughout the Buffalo River.
Spring Sweep
Spring Sweep 2024, was a huge success!
- 1,233 volunteers came out to cleanup
- removed trash at 40 sites throughout the Niagara River/Lake Erie Watershed
- an estimated 10,460 pounds collected during the 2024 Spring Sweep
We have continued to promote our digital data collection efforts using the Clean Swell app, and volunteers recorded over 41,000 pieces of trash this year.
Register for Spring Sweep 2025
See Pictures from the 2024 Sweep!
Check out the site map below for places you could visit to clean up during a Solo Sweep.
Waterway Cleanup FAQ
Cleanup FAQ
Spring Sweep Waiver for Minors
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there restrictions for volunteers under the age of 18?
Anyone can join a cleanup, but those under 18-years-old will need to be supervised by a parent or guardian. For groups with those under 18-years-old, we prefer a 5:1 student volunteer to chaperon ratio and must have a waiver signed by their parent or guardian to participate. Click here to download and print the waiver.
Some sites may not be safe for younger children, so please use caution when choosing your site. Those with physical disabilities, injuries, or are recovering from surgery are also advised to use caution when choosing a cleanup site. If you are unsure of which site to choose, please contact Emily Dyett at edyett@bnwaterkeeper.org and he will be happy to assist you in choosing the right site for you.
Can I do an in-water cleanup via kayak, canoe, or other water craft?
All of our in-water events require two ACA certified staff to be present. There will not be any in-water cleanup sites for the Spring Sweeps.
I would like to cleanup at a site, but I don’t see it on the registration list. Why is that?
It could be that the site was not deemed to have enough trash on our scouting visits to warrant a need for it to be a cleanup site.
Please feel free to reach out directly to Emily Dyett edyett@bnwaterkeeper.org if you have any questions about specific sites or if you find a site that needs cleaning up and do not see it on the list. We want to maximize our efforts and keep as much trash out of our waterways and shorelines as possible.
I want to sign up my work/school/scout/club group. How do I do that?
Unfortunately, we do not hold spots for groups, however many of Spring Sweep sites can accommodate larger groups! We ask that folks register individually so they can receive all the details and information for the event directly to their email. We also suggest you have people register right away because spots are first come, first serve. Registration opens in March!
Please contact Emily Dyett at edyett@bnwaterkeeper.org if you have any other questions on registration.
I would like to register for a site but it is full. Why?
Each site has a certain capacity for volunteering efforts, so we limit the amount of people that can register for each site. We value our volunteer’s time and want to make sure you enjoy the event. Please try registering for another site or contact Emily Dyett at edyett@bnwaterkeeper.org to discuss further.
I am registered for a cleanup. What should I do next?
Once you are registered, you will receive an email that gives you the information that you’ll need. Please read the entire email and inform any additional volunteers to register themselves. You will also receive a reminder email with your information a few days before the cleanup to help remind you what you need to do.
Do I really need to sign a waiver?
Yes. This is a requirement for all volunteers for our insurance and liability purposes. Volunteers sign the waiver when they arrive and check into the event. If volunteers are under the age of 18 and NOT accompanied by their parent or guardian, they must bring a signed waiver and submit to the Site Captain.
Any volunteer who refuses to sign a waiver will not be allowed to participate in the cleanup or use materials provided by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper.
Ready for the cleanup! What should I expect on the day of the event?
Please arrive to your site early so that everyone can get to cleaning! 15 minutes before the time indicated in your confirmation email is a sufficient amount of time. Your Site Captain will be greeting volunteers and provide you with instructions and cleanup materials (work gloves, bags, data collection details).
Some sites may have uneven ground or steep slopes, so please make sure you only go to areas you are comfortable working in. With unpredictable weather, be sure to wear appropriate clothing for working outside. Boots or sneakers are required as flip flops and sandals cannot protect you from sharp objects. We also recommend wearing long pants and conducting a tick check after the cleanup. Once the site is cleaned, you will return to your meeting place and the Site Captain will take your gloves, bags, and answer any other questions or concerns you may have.
Great Lakes CleanUP
The Spring Sweep is also part of the Great Lakes CleanUP, a weeklong trash removal effort created in partnership with 18 other groups and organizations from around the Great Lakes basin. These dedicated partners organize thousands of volunteers to remove trash, collect litter data, and keep our waterways clean.
