AstoriaTrash Club

Absolutely! We love getting suggestions for cleanup locations around Astoria.

Our cleanups are typically organized in partnership with local businesses, and we try to keep cleanup routes within walking distance of the host location. We meet near these local spots so volunteers have an easy gathering place and so the Department of Sanitation can collect the bags at this designated spot once we're done.

If you have a location in mind, send it our way! We'll do our best to make it happen in coordination with a nearby business partner.

That said, if an area has an unusually large amount of trash, illegal dumping, conditions that are beyond what a volunteer cleanup can reasonably handle , or is on private or restricted property, we encourage you to report it to 311 first so the city can address it with the proper resources. Our volunteers are here to help keep Astoria clean, but some situations require more than trash grabbers and good intentions. 💚

We're always excited to partner with local Astoria businesses that care about keeping our neighborhood clean and bringing the community together.

Our business partners typically serve as meetup locations for cleanups, helping us create a welcoming gathering spot for volunteers before and after each event. It's a great way to connect with neighbors, support community engagement and showcase your business to local residents. We sometimes reserve seating for groups of 15+ members who want to stay after the cleanup and dine in together. It's a great way to keep the community vibes going after the work is done and contribute to your business!

If you're interested in hosting a cleanup or exploring other ways to collaborate, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us via email: astoriatrashclub@gmail.com and we'll schedule an in-person meeting or call to chat about how we can work together to make Astoria a little cleaner and a little more connected. 💚

Astoria Trash Club is funded through a mix of grants and community donations.

Both grants and individual donations help cover the core costs of our cleanups, including supplies like gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, safety gear and other essentials that keep our volunteers equipped and safe in the field.

We're a community-powered initiative, so every contribution big or small directly supports keeping our cleanups running and helping make Astoria a cleaner, more connected neighborhood.

Absolutely! Kids are welcome to join as long as they're accompanied by a parent or guardian. We love seeing families get involved.

Pets are welcome too, just make sure they're leashed (or very well behaved) and comfortable in a group setting so everyone has a safe and enjoyable cleanup experience.

Yes! There are a few important guidelines for safety, practicality, and environmental stewardship.

We generally avoid handling loose broken glass directly, but in some cleanups we may use a separate tear-proof container specifically for glass to dispose of it safely.

We also separate certain materials as we go. E-waste (like small electronics, batteries, or cords) is collected in its own designated bag so it can be handled more responsibly.

To support sustainability, we also separate recyclables (hard plastics, metal, and intact glass). Other items like dog waste and yard waste are not collected during cleanups.

Mostly, but not always!

Our weekly cleanups usually rotate between Saturdays and Sundays so more people can join. Occasionally, we'll also host special cleanups on Fridays or during the week, especially around holidays or special community moments.

We do our best to vary the timing so there's a chance for everyone to get involved at some point.

While we provide all of the cleanup supplies and equipment, we recommend bringing water, especially on hot days. When we partner with coffee shops, we also encourage volunteers to bring reusable mugs if they plan to purchase a beverage, to reduce our use of single-use plastic. We recommend wearing clothing and shoes that are comfortable, easy to walk in, and that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty.

Fair question! Our mission is pretty simple: pick up trash, pick up friends, and build community.

We started Astoria Trash Club because we love this neighborhood and want to help keep it clean while creating opportunities for neighbors to connect with each other and support local businesses. A cleaner block, a few new friends, and a stronger community? That's a win in our book.

We know the word gentrification comes up a lot in conversations about neighborhoods, but picking up litter isn't really about changing who belongs here; it's about caring for the place we all share. We're not developers, landlords, or real estate investors. We're just neighbors spending an hour a week making our streets a little cleaner.

In fact, some of our members were born and raised in Astoria, and others have called it home for decades. They've seen the neighborhood through many different phases and joined for the same reason as everyone else: they want a cleaner Astoria and a stronger sense of community.

So is cleaning up trash trendy? Maybe. But if being trendy means taking care of your neighborhood and meeting good people, we'll happily own that. 🫶