How to Organize a Litter Cleanup in Nova Scotia

·
Waste Reduction

 

Divert NS Sponsor-a-Student Intern Series

Each year, Divert NS provides a bursary and work placement opportunity to an NSCC student in the Natural Resources Environmental Technology or Environmental Engineering Technology programs. This year’s recipient is Andrew Hasket, who just completed his Natural Resources Technology diploma. As part of his internship, Andrew was a contributing WNN reporter, reporting on areas of waste management that are important to him.

 

Litter has a funny way of multiplying. One dropped coffee cup becomes two, then a scattered chip bag joins in, and before long a corner of your neighbourhood looks neglected. The good news? Taking an active role by hosting a community clean-up is one of the simplest ways to stop litter before it starts. The crew at Divert NS decided to tackle this issue in their annual litter cleanup as part of the Great Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up.

Back in June, the Divert NS office staff cleaned along a section of the Cobequid Trail near the NSCC Truro Campus. With sunny and hot weather, the day was perfect for cleaning up a much-used section of a trail through the heart of town. To maintain safety and good communication, a safety talk was held just prior to picking up litter, going over topics such as biohazard safety and awareness, hydration, emergency plans, and general planning of the event. 

Divert NS staff split into groups to cover more ground. In a little over an hour of dedicated work, over 90 pounds of litter and recyclables were collected and appropriately disposed of. No small feat. 

Below are some guidelines for how you and your friends can get involved in the Great NS Pick-Me-Up:

Step 1: Pick Your Spot and Your People

Start by choosing an area you’d like to clean, then gather a group — friends, family, coworkers, or schoolmates. Ensure that the area you want to clean isn’t private property or obtain the property owner’s permission. Also, ensure that there are no activity restrictions, such as the area being a protected space. Once you have your crew, register your event on the Great NS Pick-Me-Up website. Registering isn’t just a formality; it connects your effort to a province-wide tracking program that measures real impact.

Step 2: Grab Your Supplies

You don’t need to buy gloves and bags out of pocket. Once registered, the Great NS Pick Me Up will let you know where you can pick up litter kits for free. Planning a large clean up event or have questions about your cleanup supplies? Reach out to the program staff directly at litterprograms@coastalaction.org or 902-634-9977 and let them know your plans. 

Step 3: Safety First, Always

It is clear that no piece of litter is worth getting hurt over. A few key rules:

  • Don’t go anywhere you don’t feel comfortable or safe. Visiting the site ahead of time is often a good idea to identify any safety hazards, concerns or restrictions. 
  • Never pick up sharps like needles, syringes, or lancets with your hands — use tongs or a litter grabber instead, and place them in a Safe Sharps Container, available for free pickup and drop-off at your local pharmacy. If you’re not comfortable handling sharps, leave them and report them to the non-emergency police line.
  • Wear proper closed-toe footwear, and bring sunscreen, bug spray, and tick spray. It’s even worth watching a quick tick-removal video beforehand, just in case.
  • Stay hydrated and take breaks. 
  • Avoid using headphones, especially near roadways.
  • Have a short safety briefing with your cleanup crew prior to starting. Review the protocol and safety checklist from the Great NS Pick Me Up’s Litter Handbook.

Step 4: Sort as You Go

Not every "recyclable" survives a day in the ditch. If a recyclable item isn’t relatively clean, it should go straight in the garbage rather than recycling. And if you’re hauling collected waste away by vehicle, make sure anything in an open truck or trailer is tarped or tied down before you hit the road. You don’t want your collected litter to blow away and become litter again!

Step 5: Dispose, Share, and Report Back

Once the cleanup ends, garbage and recycling can be split between participants and set out curbside with regular household waste — it counts toward the six-bag limit for single-unit households, and normal sorting rules still apply. If you’re planning a large cleanup and expect volumes more than what can be split between participants, contact the Great NS Pick Me Up or you Solid Waste Region to make alternative arrangements.

Don’t forget two final, important steps:

  1. Share your story. Post photos of your team and your haul on Facebook (with everyone’s permission) — everyone loves seeing the results.
  2. Submit your data to the Great NS Pick Me Up. Fill out the data card describing how much and what kinds of litter you collected. This step matters more than it might seem — it helps determine the real impact of cleanup efforts and reveals what types of litter are troubling local communities.

Why It’s Worth Doing

Beyond the satisfaction of tidier parks, streets, trails, beaches and green spaces, these cleanups feed into something bigger. Litter affects public health and safety, property values, and overall quality of life. Every item collected is one less source of microplastics, wildlife hazards, and mess in the community. It is also fun, and a great way to build a sense of community. So next time you notice a patch of your neighbourhood that needs some love, consider turning it into a group outing. Grab some friends, register your spot, pick up a kit from the library, and make a small but real dent in keeping Nova Scotia clean.