The 16th annual Clean Sweep will run the week of Earth Day 2023. 

Begins: Saturday, April 15, 2023
Ends: Sunday, April 23, 2023

The 2023 iron-on patch features Red Trillium, a spring wildflower that grows at Birchbank Mountain and Indian Well.  Request free patches after completing a cleanup on public property by email: conservation@cityofshelton.org.


How to participate in Shelton Clean Sweep:

1.  Join a cleanup or plan a cleanup in your neighborhood to remove litter from public spaces or waterways. 

We encourage Sheltonites to organize cleanups in their neighborhoods. There are plenty of open space properties, waterways, roadways, and schools with litter problems.  Clean-up event examples: one person cleaning up their roadway, a neighborhood group cleaning up an open space property where litter blows in from the street, a Scouting group cleaning up a park or school, and a business cleaning up a roadway.

Two groups have been organizing events open to the general public:
Shelton Clean Up Project (Facebook Group organizes clean-ups throughout the year).
Housatonic River Clean Up (regional project each Spring).


2. Organize some volunteers to clean that location, or work alone, whatever works best for you.  We have a neighborhood flyer that can help.

3. Register your cleanup event as early as possible so others can see what you plan to clean up and we avoid multiple groups cleaning up the same spot. See what other people have already signed up to clean so there's no conflict with clean-ups (if you want to clean up the same location as someone else, please choose a date AFTER the clean-up that was already scheduled).  Note that we are very flexible about dates chosen.

4. Pick up bags and gloves from City Hall, Conservation office Room 102. Contact the Natural Resource Manager Teresa Gallaghe to ensure she is in the office when you come (conservation@cityofshelton.org or 203-924-1555 x1315). 

5. Clean up litter anytime the week of Earth Day (April 22). If another time works better for you, that's OK. You still qualify for free bags, gloves, and Clean Sweep patches.

6.  If necessary, call Highways and Bridges to pick up the accumulated litter 203-924-9277 during business hours.  Do not bring the trash home if you plan for Highways and Bridges to make a special trip - leave it along the nearest roadway.

7. File a Cleanup report that lets everyone know how much you picked up. This gives us a better picture of how many people have picked up litter throughout the city.  If you didn't register, you can still file a cleanup report. We encourage it.

8. For free iron-on patches (supplies are limited), please send an email to conservation@cityofshelton.org. Include the area you cleaned and the number of patches requested. Patches can be mailed or picked up directly by arrangement.