Cleanup Tips
Always check the weather and make sure the conditions are safe before you begin a cleanup.
SHORELINE CLEANUP TIPS
Put safety first
Wear protective gloves and closed toe shoes or boots. Apply sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your self from the sun. And be careful when you pick up trash. There could be something sharp or harmful at your cleanup site.
Use cleanup tools
Use a trash grabber. Collect trash in a durable plastic bag or bucket. Keep sharper items separate so they don’t break through.
Dress for the weather
Wear layers to ensure you have the flexibility you need to stay warm or to cool off.
Stay hydrated
Bring plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout the cleanup, especially on hot days. Avoid overexertion and heat exhaustion.
Collect and dispose of trash properly
Separate and properly dispose of recyclables and non-recyclables.
Call the authorities
Don’t pick up hazardous items like needles or medical waste — or dead animals. If you come across these items, notify your local authorities, such as the police or your county’s solid waste office, for cleanup assistance and safe disposal.
SCUBA CLEANUP TIPS
Put safety first
Follow all PADI safe diving practices. For a complete list, visit PADI.
Familiarize yourself with the site
Prior to the dive, learn as much as you can about the site.
Check your equipment
Before entering the water, make sure all your gear and equipment is working properly.
Use flags
Treat a cleanup dive like any other dive. Before you enter the water, perform a buddy check and assign roles and/or tasks for the cleanup.
Dive with a buddy
Make sure you have the proper surface support, including flags, to alert boaters that a dive is taking place.
Use cleanup tools
Wear protective gloves and move slowly. It can be helpful to collect trash in a mesh bag and to use a metal tongs to remove trash from hard to reach areas. Durable shears, a dive knife and/or fishing line cutters can also come in handy. To avoid injury, use a lift bag to remove heavy objects.
Call the authorities
Don’t pick up hazardous items like needles, medical waste, weapons or dead animals. Also don’t remove items of ritual or historical significance, like tribal offerings or artifacts. If you come across any of these items, pin their location and notify your local authorities, such as the police or your county’s solid waste office, for cleanup assistance and safe disposal or preservation.
Properly clean your equipment
All your dive gear and equipment should be inspected, cleaned and dried to ensure you don’t spread aquatic invasive species (AIS) or bacteria from one body of water to another.
ICE CLEANUP TIPS
Put safety first
Before you head out on the ice, check to make sure the conditions are safe. When in doubt, don’t go out. Wear protective gloves and a traction aid on your footwear, such as ice grips or crampons. Take short deliberate steps and keep your center of gravity over your feet. And be careful when you pick up trash. There could be something sharp or harmful at your cleanup site.
Use cleanup tools
Use a trash grabber. Collect trash in a durable plastic bag or bucket. Keep sharper items separate so they don’t break through.
Dress for the weather
Wear layers to ensure you have the flexibility you need to stay warm or to cool off. Protect your extremities with a hat and warm socks. Stay dry. To help make sure that you’re visible, wear a headlamp, reflective vest and/or carry a flashlight when needed.
Take breaks
If you start feeling cold, go inside to warm up. And stay hydrated by drinking warm, non-alcoholic fluids.
Collect and dispose of trash properly
Separate and properly dispose of recyclables and non-recyclables.
Use cleanup tools
Wear protective gloves and move slowly. It can be helpful to collect trash in a mesh bag and to use a metal tongs to remove trash from hard to reach areas. Durable shears, a dive knife and/or fishing line cutters can also come in handy. To avoid injury, use a lift bag to remove heavy objects.
Call the authorities
Don’t pick up hazardous items like needles or medical waste — or dead animals. If you come across these items, notify your local authorities, such as the police or your county’s solid waste office, for cleanup assistance and safe disposal.