Parks Cleanup

Each year, families, friends, community organizations, businesses, and school groups participate in the Parks cleanup program by donating their time. The purpose of program is to help remove litter that has accumulated, promote community engagement, and create healthy vibrant spaces. It’s also about helping us achieve our Brampton Grow Green goals.

Self-Led Cleanups

Select a local park that needs a cleaning.
Register your cleanup. This ensures you will be provided with cleanup supplies and garbage pickup.
Get outside and complete your cleanup! Please take photos and send them to us at bramptongreencity@brampton.ca

School Cleanups

Encourage your school to participate in making a difference in the community.
Select a local park or school playground that needs a cleaning.
Register your cleanup. This ensures you will be provided with all of your cleanup supplies.
Get outside and complete your cleanup!
Provide post-cleanup feedback for an opportunity to be recognized for your participation.

Meet Bill. He cleans up litter. Be like Bill.

Long-time Bramptonian Bill started his cleanup journey more than three years ago when he noticed garbage in a nearby ravine. He started cleaning the ravine litter – some that had been around for decades – and then expanded his efforts to other nearby areas.

Soon after, he created a volunteer group called P.A.L. (People Against Littering). Each week, more than 10 volunteers gather to cleanup garbage in local parks and spaces. “Our goal is to unite the community into a powerful force to take back control of our parks and streets from litter bugs and litter thugs,” says Bill.

So, what keeps Bill going? “The feeling is almost addictive,” he says. “It is also a thrill to see others smiling and enjoying areas that we have cleaned up and to be appreciated by them.”

Bill has a message for all Bramptonians: “Folks, pick the litter up! If we all picked up just five pieces of litter a week, that would have a major impact.”

Be like Bill and do your part to keep Brampton clean and green.

Safety Tips

Participant safety is the highest priority at our cleanups. Please read the following safety tips and take every precaution to avoid personal injury.

Wear appropriate and protective clothing according to the weather (e.g. boots, gloves, hat, sunscreen).
Always put masks, gloves and other home health care waste in a bag before throwing them in the garbage. Please don’t litter!
Be familiar with your clean up area.
Only pick up litter during daylight hours.
Use a litter picker if you have one.
Watch for and avoid hazards, such as wild animals, insects, noxious weeds, and glass.
Do not pick up any material that may be hazardous, such as needles/syringes, broken glass, chemicals, dead animals, and heavy/oversized objects. Instead, mark the location and call 311.
Do not walk on roadways or steep hills and embankments.
Be mindful of vehicles when near or adjacent to a road.
Do not enter water bodies to retrieve items.
Do not approach homeless encampments, call 311 to report the location.
Do not trespass on private property.
Do not compress garbage or reach into garbage containers with hands or feet.
Wash your hands after your clean up.

Parks Cleanup FAQs

How can I register?

There are two easy ways to register:

Online complete the Registration Form online.
Email bramptongreencity@brampton.ca

What are the differences between a Self-Led Cleanup and an Organized Cleanup?

Organized cleanups are dates set-up by City of Brampton volunteers at designated parks. Self-led cleanups are initiated by yourself, choosing whichever greenspace/park you prefer, as well as a date and cleanup time that is convenient to your schedule.

Can volunteers choose a cleanup space other than a park; a waterway, valley land or boulevard?

All greenspaces in need of a cleaning are welcome, but volunteer safety is the highest priority! For this reason, participants are asked to stay away from waterways and boulevards.

Who can participate in a Parks Cleanup?

Individuals, families, friends, elected officials, book clubs, sport leagues, faith organizations, Scouting and Guiding groups, business associations, schools and more are all welcome to participate! For safety reasons, children must be supervised by an adult.

What if I can’t attend the Parks Cleanup on the day I registered?

Sometimes unforeseen circumstances like inclement weather mean volunteers cannot participate on their designated day. Don’t worry! Select a new date and carry on!

Is pre-registration mandatory?

Registration is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged for 3 reasons:

After registration, the correct amount of garbage bags and gloves are distributed to clean up participants
Upon registration, organizations and groups requiring assistance with event coordination are contacted by City staff. Registration details allows for 2-way conversations. Click here to review the City’s privacy statement.
Through the registration process Parks staff can identify event dates and park locations requiring garbage collection.

What supplies are provided and where do I access them?

Prior to your event date, garbage bags and gloves are distributed to participants by Parks staff, courtesy of our sponsor GLAD. As part of the registration, you will specify an address that supplies will be delivered to.

How is garbage disposed of once it is collected?

Through the Park Cleanup registration process, Parks staff will identify and coordinate garbage collection at your requested location, and an email confirmation will be sent to you highlighting where the garbage pick-up will be. Alternatively, self-led volunteers are welcome to take bags of garbage home for disposal at the curb as part of household pick-up.

Can students collect volunteer service hours?

Yes, students may qualify for volunteer service hours by participating in an Organized Cleanup. Bring your volunteer form with you, and a City staff member will be happy to sign-off on your contribution!

What are the benefits of participating?

City parks provide valuable leisure spaces, immeasurable health benefits, a connection to nature, and opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. By participating in a Parks Cleanup, you can help give back to these green spaces and uncover even more benefits:

Parks, recreational trails, waterways, conservation lands, woodlots, boulevards and community gardens provide Brampton residents with a beautiful setting that contributes to our quality of life!
By being physically active in Brampton’s great outdoors, one’s health and wellbeing increases while reducing the risk of illness.
Research shows that contact with the natural world improves physical and psychological well-being including reduced levels of anxiety and depression.
Maintained parks and open spaces increases the value of neighbouring residential property. Evidence points to a similar benefit for commercial properties.
Green spaces, like Brampton’s Gage Park and Chinguacousy Park draw tourists who contribute to our economy and the wellbeing of local businesses.
Trees in Brampton provide substantial environmental benefits, reducing air and water pollution while helping to keep our City cooler.
Wetlands filter storm water before reaching our rivers. Also, tree root systems present cost efficient and effective alternatives to building additional concrete sewers and drainage ditches to manage erosion and storm run-off.
Green spaces and waterways provide important habitats for wildlife.
Students 13 to 18 years of age can contribute while earning volunteer service hours!
There is no cost to participate in a Parks Cleanup
Cooperating to take care of something that belongs to all of us is a way for Brampton residents to meet each other and develop new friendships. The annual Parks Cleanup campaign builds community spirit!

What other support does the City provide to community groups conducting cleanups?

You can add your cleanup event to the City's events calendar. Click on 'submit an event' at the bottom of the Events page. If your organization would like to use the City's customizable poster template, contact us at bramptongreencity@brampton.ca.