GLAD Cleaning the Capital

Registration for GLAD Cleaning the Capital is now closed!

GLAD Cleaning the Capital registration for the Spring Campaign will start March 15, 2021.

Thank you to everyone who took part in keeping Ottawa clean and green in 2020!

Cleanup Report

Thank You for taking part in the GLAD Cleaning the Capital fall campaign!

Registered Projects: 345

Spring Cleaning the Capital - Important dates 2021

March 15, 2021: Early bird registration begins
April 15, 2021 - May 15, 2021: Spring Cleaning the Capital campaign
April 23, 2021 – April 25, 2021: Capital Cleanup Weekend (to be confirmed)
May 15, 2021: Registration ends
May 31, 2021: Deadline to submit your online cleanup report.

How you can take part

Plan it

Pick your project site, your cleanup date (rain date too!), and time.
Promote your project and gather your project team.
Be sure to plan ahead for the proper disposal of compost, garbage, recycling, leaf-and-yard waste and any other hazardous items you may collect. Need assistance? Call 3-1-1.
Cleaning the Capital is an ideal way for neighbours, family and friends to work together and clean up their neighbourhood.

Register

Fill out the online registration form or call 3-1-1 to register your project. If you need supplies, remember to request your project starter kit and to select your desired pickup location while registering.

The importance of registering: If you're cleaning up your neighbourhood or favourite green space, please register with us. People are encouraged to register in order to allow Cleaning the Capital organizers to distribute cleaning supplies, track the areas that have been cleaned and recognize volunteer work.

Register and WIN! Register within the early bird registration dates and you and your team will be eligible to win a prize donated by our generous sponsors.

Complete your project!

If you requested a starter kit, remember to pick it up. If you have questions about your starter kit pickup date, please call 3-1-1.You can find a complete list of pick up locations on the online registration form.

Submit your report

Don’t forget to fill out your online cleanup report before the submission deadline for an opportunity to win more prizes.

Get your business involved

As a business owner or employee, you can make a difference by volunteering time or resources for a cleaner city:

Spend your next coffee break with employees or co-workers picking up litter.
If you or your employees smoke, remember to dispose of cigarette butts responsibly. Arrange for suitable ashtrays and sweep up cigarette butts.
Contact us at cleaning@ottawa.ca or 613-580-2424, ext.13458 to get Cleaning the Capital promotional materials to display in your store or office.

Celebrate!

Celebrate your success and gear up for the next event!

Pickup sites for cleanup starter kits

Registrants will receive a confirmation e-mail when their cleanup starter kit request has been submitted. Cleanup starter kits will be ready for pickup 9 days after registration.

City Hall Client Service Centre, 110 Laurier Avenue West
Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Richcraft Recreation Complex-Kanata, 4101 Innovation Drive, 613-580-9696
Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 8:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
Walter Baker Sports Centre, 100 Malvern Drive, 613-580-2424, ext. 30371
Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 12:15 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:15 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 1:30 pm
Nepean Client Service Centre 101 Centrepointe Drive, 1^st floor
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex - Orleans, 1490 Youville Drive, 613-580-9600 ext. 0
Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 7:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
CARDELREC Recreation Complex Goulbourn, 1500 Shea Road, 613-580-2532
Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 8:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm

Background information

What is Cleaning the Capital?

The GLAD Cleaning the Capital campaign is a citywide cleanup that occurs in the spring and fall of every year. Residents come together as a community and combine efforts to make our city clean and green. Litter pickup or graffiti removal projects must be registered, and participating teams, upon request, receive a cleanup starter kit to assist them with their projects. Participants who register their cleanups during the campaign’s early bird registration period and/or submit their on-line cleanup reports after their cleanup are eligible to win prizes donated by the campaign's generous sponsors.

2020 marks the 27th year of the GLAD Cleaning the Capital campaign! The annual cleanup campaign first began in 1994 as a springtime cleanup. In 2006, due to the spring campaign's overwhelming success an annual fall cleanup was added. Since 1994, more than 1.3 million volunteers have participated in more than 22,000 cleanup projects throughout the city. As a result, an estimated 1,100,000 kilograms of waste has been removed from our public spaces.

The GLAD Cleaning the Capital campaign is not-for-profit initiative and relies heavily on the generosity of sponsors who offer financial and in-kind support. Cleaning the Capital is an exciting way for residents to foster community pride by cleaning up their parks, bus stops, woodlots, ravines, shorelines and pathways, while enjoying the outdoors and ensuring that Ottawa stays clean, green, and graffiti and litter-free.

What types of projects are available?

Litter pickup projects in public spaces and/or graffiti removal projects on select public assets can be registered through the Cleaning the Capital campaign. Choose to clean our precious green spaces and community parks, roadsides, and shorelines, or choose to clean areas around bus shelters by picking up litter and cigarette butts, and cleaning graffiti!

Does Cleaning the Capital include shoreline cleanups?

Absolutely! Ottawa has 4,500 kilometres of streams and rivers and that doesn’t include our lakes, ponds and wetlands. Our incredible wealth of water environments calls on us as residents to be shoreline stewards. What happens on shorelines affects the quality of the water and the life it supports. If you do sign up to clean a stretch of shoreline that you love, remember that the focus is only on human litter. Leave natural elements like logs and branches in place. If you would like some guidance in picking a priority stretch of shoreline, please contact your local conservation authority:

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority: citystreamwatch@rvca.ca
South Nation Conservation Authority: jmesman@nation.on.ca
Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority: sogrady@mvc.on.ca

You can also take part in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.

Cleaning graffiti

If you want to remove graffiti on select public assets as part of your Cleaning the Capital cleanup project, we can assist by providing:

A Graffiti Removal Starter kit (intended for use on public property/assets)Safety tips and instructions
For more information on proper graffiti removal, visit ottawa.ca/graffiti.

For further details on registering a graffiti removal project during Cleaning the Capital, please e-mail us at cleaning@ottawa.ca.

Cleaning cigarette butts

Cigarette butts are litter too. They are not recyclable and they do not biodegrade. They are toxic and can take up to 12 years to breakdown. Remember to include picking up cigarette butts as part of your cleanup project. Make sure to wear gloves and to dispose of them in the garbage. If you are cleaning a paved area, use a broom and dust pan to sweep up the cigarette butts. If you are cleaning a grassy area, use a rake.

Resources:

What is included in a cleanup kit?

Litter Pickup Starter Kits include: Gloves and garbage bags.
Graffiti Removal Starter Kits include: Graffiti removal wipes (effective on smooth surfaces only), masks, gloves, scouring pads, and safety tips.

Cleanup starter kits are designed to get you started on your project and our generous sponsors donate the supplies. While we cannot provide unlimited supplies to volunteers, we will do our very best to ensure that you have enough supplies to complete your project. Cleanup starter kits are individually packed for each project team based on the number of volunteers you have registered. Need additional tools or supplies? Contact us! We may be able to further support your cleanup by loaning you shovels, rakes and/or litter pickers.

What if I can’t find a project team?

If you can’t find a project team, try to make one yourself! Tell your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about your plans. Try approaching your community or neighbourhood association and asking if the whole community wants to get involved. Ask around at your children's school or your workplace or community centre.

If you still can't find a team, don't worry; many of our long-time Cleaning the Capital volunteers make an impact each and every year all by themselves. All it takes is one person to make a difference.

High school volunteer hours

Cleaning the Capital is a great opportunity for high school students to get a head start on their Community Involvement Program volunteer hours. Students must simply:

Register their cleanup online during the campaign.
Complete their cleanup project.
Submit their cleanup report prior to the submission deadline.
Contact us to obtain a letter supporting their participation in the Cleaning the Capital campaign.

What is Capital Cleanup Weekend?

Capital Cleanup Weekend is a three-day period (Friday to Sunday) during the Cleaning the Capital campaign when many of our councillors and generous sponsors visit cleanup projects throughout the city to thank our volunteers and hand out extra prizes!

How do I get involved?

Participate at school

Cleanup projects can be a fun and co-operative way to learn about the importance of a clean and safe environment. Teachers and students can organize school and community cleanup projects or challenge other grades and schools to see who can pick up the most litter or clean the most graffiti! Cleaning the Capital is a great opportunity for high school students to add to their Community Involvement Program Volunteer hours.

Make it work at work

As an Ottawa business there are lots of ways you can help out during the campaign:

Become a campaign sponsor. An attractive city promotes respect, economic development and tourism!
Sponsor a specific community group or school that is planning a cleanup project - donate incentive prizes, cleanup supplies or sponsor a cleanup celebration event like a barbecue or picnic.
Organize your own group to clean up the area adjacent to your business or an area of the city that is important to you.
Challenge nearby businesses to organize cleanups in the community.

What do I do with the garbage/litter I collect?

Ensure your group of volunteers compost, recycle and dispose of waste properly.
Dog feces can go in the green bin.
Bring all toxic materials to one of the City’s one-day Household Hazardous Waste Depots.
Leave extremely large or unsafe items where they are found. Do not attempt to move them. Call 3-1-1 immediately for disposal instructions.
Bring your cleanup project garbage home whenever possible for your regularly scheduled collection day. Please remember to respect the 6 waste item limit, excluding recycling and leaf and yard waste. Visit Recycling and Garbage for more information on what items are to be set out on your collection day.
Arrange for onsite pickup. Simply call 3-1-1 to put in your garbage pickup request. Remember to have on hand your registration code, the pickup date, time and location. Please note that all items must be left at the one location which must be easily accessible and must not impede on any pedestrian, cycling or vehicular traffic. Whenever possible, please contact 3-1-1 ahead of time to make pickup arrangements in advance of your cleanup.
Hosting an event for your cleanup team? Don’t forget to recycle and compost. Dispose of your recyclables in the appropriate bin and dispose of your food waste in your green bin.

What if I have found a large item and need assistance to dispose of it?

If you expect to or have collected large items and need assistance in disposing of these from your cleanup site, please contact us as soon as possible by calling 3-1-1. We will make special arrangements on your behalf to have the items picked up and properly disposed of. Remember to provide us with details on the location of the items such as the closest municipal address, a land mark or the nearest intersection.

What is my registration code? How can I obtain it?

Your Cleaning the Capital registration code is provided to you in an e-mail upon confirmation of your registration. It is used to submit your Cleanup Report at the end of your project. You may also find your registration code on the Kit Packing Sheet which accompanies your cleanup kit. If you have misplaced your registration code, please contact us.

Important project and safety information

Proper disposal of garbage and recycling

Cleaning the Capital volunteers are encouraged whenever possible to bring their project garbage and recycling home for regular curbside collection. Please remember to comply with the six waste items limit every second week per household. Yard waste and recycling are not subject to this limit.

On-site project garbage pickup arrangements can be made. Simply call 613-580-2424, ext. 13458 to put in your pickup request. Remember to have on hand your registration code, the pickup date, time and the location the bags can be picked up. Please note that the location must be easily accessible and must not impede on any pedestrian, cycling or vehicular traffic. Whenever possible, please contact 3-1-1 ahead of time to make pickup arrangements in advance of your cleanup.

Ensure that your group compost, recycle and dispose of waste properly.

Bring all toxic materials to one of the City’s one-day Household Hazardous Waste Depots. Call 3-1-1 for more information.

What about leaves, branches, and wood?

Please “leave the leaves” in open areas! Leaves should be left in open spaces that are maintained by the City, including parks. Please remove leaves from areas where mowers cannot be used. Leaves, litter and debris tend to accumulate along fence lines, play structures and landscaped areas to name a few. Help improve our public spaces by making them clean and safe!

Moving wood can spread invasive insects and diseases to our forests. Please help us to grow a healthy forest for the nation's capital by not moving wood.

Leaving some of the coarse woody debris such as dead and downed wood such as logs, uprooted stumps, large branches and coarse roots on the ground is a recommended practice which contributes to long-term forest health. Coarse woody debris is essential for sustainable natural areas and benefits them by providing the following:

Slow release of nutrients over the years
Habitat for a wide range of wildlife
Growing sites for plants and fungi
Moisture retention

General safety tips

You should do everything you can to ensure that you and your project team are safe during your cleanup project. Some basic safety rules include:

Never touch a needle with your hands. Follow safe pickup procedures, or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) for assistance.
Have a hand washing station available for volunteers.
Wear gloves and appropriate footwear.
Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts.
If cleaning near a roadway, wear a safety vest and clean only the non-travelled portion of a roadway.
Do not lift heavy objects.
Read and follow safety instructions on graffiti removal products.
Supervise children in their cleanup efforts and emphasize that safety comes first.
There must be one adult present for every six children less than 12 years of age and you must obtain consent from the legal guardian of those participants.
Children must never touch items like glass, broken wood, metal, needles, or household hazardous waste. It’s a good idea to double up your garbage bags for transporting these items.
Be aware of your surroundings and the potential hazards (i.e. poison ivy, wild parsnip, streams and branches) and remember to put on protective eyewear as necessary.
The blacklegged tick that carries the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease is present in the Ottawa area, across Eastern Ontario, and the Outaouais region of Quebec.

Our safety, our services, our people

Since the arrival of COVID-19 in March, residents have done an incredible job of following public health guidelines.

Because of you, Ottawa has flattened the curve and slowed the spread of the virus. This means the City of Ottawa can cautiously reopen and resume some programs and services.

Safety in our services is our top priority.

Ottawa’s reopening plan is based on guidance from Ottawa Public Health and aligns with the Province of Ontario’s plan to gradually relax its emergency orders. To avoid a second wave of COVID-19, the City may put in place additional public health measures or adjust the reopening plan to reduce the spread of the virus.

Residents will have to continue to follow public health guidelines:

Wear cloth masks in enclosed public spaces and when physical distancing is not possible
Practice physical distancing
Practice good hand hygiene and avoid touching your face.
Stay at home when sick