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Spring Sweep

Collect, Count, and Advocate

Join Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper for Spring Sweep 2025 on April 26 from 10 a.m. to noon for one of the largest cleanup events in Western New York!
Registration opens March 6
Spring Sweep Details

Every April we host one of the largest cleanup events in the Western New York region – the Spring Sweep. Registration opens to the public in March – stay tuned!

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s Spring Sweep is part of the annual Great Lakes CleanUP, where we are joined by volunteers across the Great Lakes region to remove litter from our shorelines and protect our waterways. Our Spring Sweep gets over 1,000 volunteers together around Earth Day to remove thousands of pounds of trash from our shorelines and communities. The Great Lakes is the drinking water resource for over 40 million people and we are excited to lead this region-wide stewardship event.

Learn more about the Cleanups program here.

Questions about our Spring Sweep? Click here for our FAQ.

Want to know more how we track litter collection during Spring Sweep? Click here to learn about Clean Swell.

Why join the Spring Sweep?
Plastic pollution is negatively impacting our water – locally and globally. Our sweeps are one important way to protect our waterways.

Removing litter from shorelines and communities means that trash stays out of our waterways, keeping them safe for us and aquatic life.

We also track the trash removed – with your help! – to understand problem areas. This data allows us 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. The targeted approach has huge impacts for us locally and gives Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper the ability build on our success of protecting and restoring our creeks, rivers and lakes.

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. 

Learn About Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper's Cleanups
Past Stats

Spring Sweep 2024 Recap

Last year’s Spring Sweep was a huge success! Check out what we all accomplished:

  • 1,233 volunteers came out to cleanup
  • removed trash at 40 sites throughout the Niagara River 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.

See Pictures from the 2024 Sweep!
Great Lakes CleanUP

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. 

Learn more about plastic pollution
Learn more about our clean water advocacy efforts
Learn About Our Cleanups Program

Cleanup FAQ

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.

Click here to download the waiver.

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.

Information Contact | Emily Dyett
Press Contact | Jennifer Fee
Sponsorship Contact | Dani Priebe