Spring Up to Clean Up

As the snow melts, the litter that has accumulated over the winter is becoming more and more visible. Without intervention, the litter in our roads, parks, and walking trails will wash into rivers and end up in Lake Superior. Once in the environment, litter will degrade, leaching harmful chemicals and microplastics into our soil and water systems.

Spring Up to Clean Up is a yearly community-wide clean up event that inspires thousands of volunteers to clean up streets, parks, school yards, and shorelines across the city. To participate, all you have to do is register, pick up a free clean up kit, and organize your clean up. Kits will be available for pickup at EcoSuperior during the month of May.

Follow along on Facebook and Instagram! Tag @EcoSuperior in your clean-up pictures, and use the hashtag #springuptbay

Please note that registration for Spring Up 2025 is now closed. Check back next year!

Ways to participate

Community and family groups: Organize a group of friends and/or family to collect litter around your block, at your favourite green space or shoreline area, or plan a neighbourhood-wide cleanup. Get creative and plan a walking or hiking adventure while picking up litter.

Workplaces, organizations, and clubs: Plan a time to get together and clean up the area around your workplace, business, church, community center, or club. Cleanups are a great team-building activity that will benefit your group and the environment!

Schools: Get students together for a schoolyard cleanup or supervised clean up in the area around the school property. Teach students the harms of litter in our environment and inspire environmental stewardship.

Clean up to win

We want to see how you Spring Up! There are three ways to win an awesome prize this year: our photo contest, data collection contest, and school contest. See below for more details.

1. Photo contest

Show off your clean up skills! This contest is open to all Spring Up participants, and we will be doing a draw for TWO prizes (one for general participants, and one for businesses and organizations). Photo submissions will be judged by quality and creativity.

Participate by:

tagging @EcoSuperior in your clean-up picture on Facebook or Instagram, and use the hashtag #springuptbay
emailing communications@ecosuperior.org

2. Data collection contest

Monitor the impact of your clean up by filling out the datasheet provided in your clean up kit. Submit your completed datasheet to be entered in a draw for a prize.

Participate by filling out the data card, and:

emailing photos of the front and back to rethinkingwaste@ecosuperior.org, OR
dropping the data sheet off at EcoSuperior

3. School contest

Every teacher that registers for Spring Up this year will be entered to win a pizza party for their class (up to 30 students).

Note: By submitting your photo, you consent to EcoSuperior using the photo for program promotion. Parent or guardian consent is necessary for any photos containing minors. If your photo contains minors, please complete this photo release form. If it is discovered that you entered without consent from the parent or legal guardian, the entries will be void.