Event FAQs

Keep Duluth Clean Cleanup

Frequently Asked Questions

I picked up garbage as part of the clean-up – What do I do with it now?

You have two options:

  1. If it fits, please dispose of it in your personal trash receptacle.

  2. If you have items that need to be picked up, please note it on your Results Form. We are working with Vaughn Maintenance Services to pick up reported items!

What are safety considerations I should be mindful of when cleaning?

In addition to wearing gloves and practicing social distancing, all participants are asked to follow these safety guidelines during their clean-up efforts: 

  • Stay hydrated, warm, and dry.

  • When on or near a roadway, whenever possible face the on-coming traffic. Do not cross in front of traffic. Stay alert.

  • Avoid movements that will distract passing drivers or other volunteers.

  • Do not wear headsets that could prevent you from hearing others or distracting you from other hazards.

  • Look all around you! Most trash gets blown around and ends up in rock and crevices or under trees and shrubs. 

  • Do not attempt to retrieve items that may risk injury.

  • Do not overexert yourself. 

  • Do not empty liquid out of closed bottles. Throw away bottles with liquid inside.

  • If you find hypodermic needles, please bring a plastic bottle to the needle, then place it in the bottle and seal. Keep this separate from your trash. If you need us to pick up a needle or if you are not comfortable picking up hypodermic needles, please call the Sharps Hotline at (218) 730-4001.

What Items Should I Not Pick Up?

Do not pick up any of the following items. You can report items and locations in the Keep Duluth Clean Litter Report.

  • Medical waste

  • Hazardous wastes including motor oil, gasoline, batteries

  • Chemical containers or plastic bottles that smell or appear to contain noxious materials

  • Dead animals

  • Sharp items (broken glass may be swept up with a broom/pan or picked up with a litter grabber)

  • Unusual, unidentifiable items

  • Appliances, televisions, furniture, or other large items that cannot be bagged or moved

  • Items and personal belongings from homeless encampments

I found needles/syringes what should I do with them?

Using care and common sense, residents can properly dispose of needles/syringes to keep our neighborhoods clean and safe. Simple precautions such as wearing gloves, carefully picking them up from the safe plunger end; avoiding the needle at any time; disposing of the needle in a plastic container such empty water bottle; and washing your hands with warm soapy water immediately after disposal are vital for safety.

It is illegal to dispose of sharps in household garbage or recycling within the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD). Here are simple steps the public can take:

  • Carefully place any found syringes or needles in an empty plastic container with a closable lid (ex: empty pop bottle or laundry detergent jug).

  • If you have the needles on public/park land, call the Sharps Hotline at 218-730-4001 to request a pick-up, and a trained volunteer will come and collect these found sharps from you.

  • If you have the collected needles at your house, please call the Harm Reduction Sisters at 720-401-6569 to request a pick-up, and a trained volunteer will come and collect these found sharps from you.

  • Anyone who discovers sharps and is not comfortable handling them can call the Sharps Hotline at 218-730-4001 to describe where the sharp is located, and a volunteer will come to collect it. This number can be used at any time to report discarded sharps in public places (ex: streets, parks, parking lots, etc.).

Should I recycle items I find that are usually recyclable?

Because most items found outside have significant amounts of dirt and debris on them, these cannot be recycled and should be thrown away. It is also important to NOT pour out any liquids that are inside bottles or containers – just throw the container away with the liquid inside. You don’t know what’s in there! Our motto: when in doubt, throw it out.

Not seeing your answer above?

Contact us here or email us at keepduluthclean@gmail.com and one of our KDC Committee Members will get back to you shortly.