Clean Up Your Community
Clean Up Your Community
In 2019, volunteers helped remove over 28,000 pounds of trash and litter from Gwinnett County waterways. Volunteer cleanups make a real and immediate impact on water quality and improve the health of the local ecosystem. Not to mention that participants are often surprised at how enjoyable and satisfying cleanups can be!
Cleanup events happen year-round, in all areas of the county. Since they cover a range of interests and offer different levels of intensity, there is a cleanup opportunity for everyone! You can even host your own cleanup and get your community group or neighborhood involved. To find out about conducting a cleanup project in your neighborhood, email DWRInfo@gwinnettcounty.com.
DWR also holds a few watershed cleanups throughout the year in partnership with Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. Watershed cleanups involve working in a larger area, generally throughout an entire watershed, and doing more than just picking up trash. Activities may include trash picking, invasive plant species removal, Adopt-a-Stream water monitoring, storm drain stenciling, and public education. There truly is something for everyone at these watershed cleanups.
Attention all high school and college students—did you know that cleanups can also count toward your community service hours? Check out our upcoming cleanup opportunities below.
Upcoming Cleanup Opportunities
Cleanup dates and opportunities for 2020 will be updated here soon! If you are interested in conducting or participating in a cleanup, email DWRinfo@gwinnettcounty.com.
Sweep the Hooch
March 27, 2021
Sweep the Hooch is an annual watershed-wide trash cleanup that brings together hundreds of volunteers each year at dozens of parks, tributaries, and access points along the Chattahoochee River. All Sweep the Hooch sites will follow CDC guidelines on physical distancing, meaning volunteers will be asked to maintain the 6 ft. recommended distance from others. Masks will be required. To register for the Gwinnett Sweep the Hooch sites, please visit their website here and select "Berkeley Lake Tributary" or "Crayfish Creek at Twin Creeks."
Great Gwinnett Wetlands
May 1, 2021
Bethesda Park, Lawrenceville
Hosted by Gwinnett Water Resources and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, this year's annual wetlands cleanup will tackle almost two miles of the Sweetwater Creek floodplain. Volunteers will be divided into teams to accomodate for social distancing guidelines. Tall muck boots or rain boots are required for this event. To register, please visit Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful's website here.
Host Your Own Cleanup!
You can hold a cleanup of your very own. Is there a stream in your neighborhood that's in need of a little extra attention? Water Resources has created a Stream Cleanup Guide, so that with just a few simple tips, you can host your own cleanup event. This guide will walk you through the safety considerations, necessary supplies, and the positive impacts you can have on your watershed when you host an event for your neighborhood, club, class, or organization.
