Join a Cleanup!
If you are interested in joining a Virginia Waterways Cleanup, please scroll through the list here and find one near you! Please be sure to contact the organizer to signup and get instructions on meeting place, what to bring, times, etc. Use the search bar for easier navigation.
Don’t see a cleanup near you? Signup to be a Virginia Waterways Cleanup Site Captain on the Lead a Cleanup Page and lead a cleanup in your community!
For clean-up groups in Northern Virginia, Clean Fairfax is here to support your efforts! Simply submit your request for cleanup supplies here, and they’ll help take care of the rest.
Fairfax County Employees: Supplies will be conveniently delivered to your nearest Supervisor's office.
All Other Groups: Supplies can be picked up at our office during regular business hours:
10400 Eaton Place, Fairfax, VA 22030. Community Clean Up Program - Clean Fairfax
Thank you for participating in this year’s Virginia Waterways Cleanup, part of the International Coastal Cleanup!
Hampton Clean City Commission Cleanups (1 Sept. thru 3 Oct.)
Hampton Clean City Commission will be hosting many cleanups this fall. Register via HCCC@Hampton.gov to receive a welcome email with details and links. Details will also be available on their facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/HamptonCleanCityCommission
Keep Norfolk Beautiful Cleanup
If you are looking to volunteer please fill out this form. The coordinator will then reach out with additional details.
September 18th - Lafayette Park, 3500 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23504 (Meet at the Keep Norfolk Beautiful building at 3500A Granby Street) 9am-12pm
Friends of Accotink Creek Cleanup
GET YOUR BRAIN WET! Join Friends of Accotink Creek to get trash out of our waterways while participating in the International Coastal Cleanup in Fairfax County. More information and registration at https://www.accotink.org/2026/InternationalCoastalCleanuppre-event2026.htm
Cleanup Locations & Times:
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Accotink Creek at Braddock Road
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Accotink Creek at Franconia-Springfield Parkway
3:00 PM - 5:00 Accotink Creek at Telegraph Road
Riverside Park Cleanup
Join the Riverside Park cleanup on Saturday, September 19th.
Organizer: Stephen | fahyst@verizon.net
International Costal Cleanup Day
Join VB Parks and Recreation, Clean Virginia Waterways and Surf Rider for the International Costal Cleanup Day.
Please arrive at the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum between 8:30 and 9:00 am to check in. Volunteers are being dispersed to clean as far north as 40th Street and as far south as 1st Street.
Please register to volunteer, volunteers will be updated with parking instructions.
Lynnhaven River NOW | September Waterway Cleanup & FREE E-Waste Recycling at Scarborough Square
Participants need to pre-register with Lynnhaven River NOW on the event page to sign the waiver.
Location will be at Scarborough Square in Virginia Beach, VA (exact meetup point will be emailed upon registration).
Friends of Indian River Cleanup
Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/5CZDr8sQAw2YjL7R9
Lilac Avenue and Indian River Road. Park along Lilac Avenue by the Norfolk Highlands Primary School. It is a No Parking zone along Oleander Avenue (parallel to Indian River Road).
As part of the International Coastal Cleanup, we will be cleaning up around and underneath the Indian River - Oaklette Bridge, at Blue Heron Landing Park, and along Indian River Road
The city will provide garbage bags and orange safety vests.
Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat, and bring work gloves and other items that may be useful. We will have water and snacks, but we also always encourage folks to bring their own water in reusable bottles to minimize the use of plastic bottles. Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.
If have access to the Indian River and are interested in "paddling up" to this cleanup with your own canoe or kayak, please reach out to us in advance at info@friendsofindianriver.org
More Info Here
Assateague Island National Seashore, Virginia District | Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Cleanup
Photo: credit: Chincoteague NWR
Join in a cleanup on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge!
Friends of Accotink Creek Cleanup
GET YOUR BRAIN WET! Join Friends of Accotink Creek to get trash out of our waterways while participating in the International Coastal Cleanup in Fairfax County. More information and registration at https://www.accotink.org/2026/InternationalCoastalCleanuppre-event2026.htm
Cleanup Locations:
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Accotink Creek at Fairfax Blvd
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Accotink Creek at Chain Bridge Road
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Accotink Creek at Blenheim Blvd
17th Annual Upper Occoquan River Cleanup
Volunteers Needed to Clean Occoquan River –
The water supply for most Eastern Prince William & Fairfax Counties
On Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. (rain date October 3, 2026), Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition (PWTSC), a 501(c)3 organization, is conducting its 17th annual clean-up of the upper Occoquan River, from nine different sites along 25+ miles of the Occoquan River. The cleanup ranges from Cedar Run/Broad Run through Lake Jackson, from the base of Lake Jackson Dam to Hooes Run (south of Lake Ridge Marina), and to Belmont Bay Community. Stormwater drainages and ponds are not left out during this community water quality awareness event.
From 2022 to 2025, over 300 volunteers on both water and land collected over 10,600 pounds of trash, putting in over 930 hours of volunteer time
Homeowners’ associations, civic associations, businesses, environmental/cooperative organizations, and student organizations are encouraged to support these trash-reduction efforts in local waterways and raise community awareness of water quality.
Experienced kayakers, canoeists, Jon boaters, and pontoon boaters are also requested for the on-the-water portion of this conservation effort.
Boaters are expected to put in and take out at the same access point. If you plan to put in and take out at another location, you must make transportation arrangements. No shuttle service is available this year.
Attached is a map showing the general water and land clean-up areas for planning purposes.
Interested participants should register at www.pwtsc.org for updates and cancellation information.
Deltaville Yachting Center | Shoreline at Broad Creek Cleanup
Don't miss the 23rd Annual Deltaville Yachting Center Shoreline Cleanup!
The 2026 Virginia Clean Marina Shoreline Cleanup (for ocean conservancy research) at Deltaville Yachting Center will take place from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Contact Tammy 804-776-9898 / tammy@dycboat.com if you are willing to HELP be a part of the cleanup team. Stop by the office on September 26th by 10:45am to pick up gloves and go over the details.
Thank you for your help to keep DYC Beautiful!
Friends of Accotink Creek Cleanup
GET YOUR BRAIN WET! Join Friends of Accotink Creek to get trash out of our waterways while participating in the International Coastal Cleanup in Fairfax County. More information and registration at https://www.accotink.org/2026/InternationalCoastalCleanuppre-event2026.htm
Cleanup Locations:
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Accotink Creek at Pickett Road
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Accotink Creek at Barkley Drive
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Accotink Creek at Woodburn Road
Elizabeth River Project— Ryan Resilience Lab Cleanup
Litter isn’t just ugly; it hurts wildlife and the river’s ecosystem. Register as a volunteer at one of our upcoming litter clean-up events. We’ll provide the garbage bags, trash grabbers and gloves (if you don’t have your own). Events will be rescheduled in the event of rain or extreme weather. Volunteers need to register at https://elizabethriver.org/volunteer/
Friends of the Occoquan Fall 2026 River Clean Up! Prince William and Fairfax Counties
FOTO Fall 2026 River Clean Up! Prince William and Fairfax Counties
Saturday, October 3, 2026, 9 AM to 12 PM
At one of these 5 locations:
Lake Ridge Marina
Contact: Renate Vanegas 703-674-6659
Town of Occoquan
Contact: Tammy Hassett 571-427-2562
Occoquan Regional Park
Contact: Alex Vanegas 703-674-7847
Fountainhead Regional Park
Contact: Sonia Monson 703-581-5487
Bull Run Marina
Contact: Steve Hunter 571-263-5367
Preregistration Recommended
How do I sign up?
Select a location from above and email the required information to foto@friendsoftheoccoquan.org
1. Location/Time Slot you plan to sign in
2. First and last names of the volunteers in your group
3. Contact number and email address
4. Do you need a community service letter? Please include your name and mailing address.
Refreshments provided
Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own filled water bottles as FOTO aims to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles.
In case of inclement weather please check the FOTO website or Facebook page for updates.
Website: www.friendsoftheoccoquan.org
Get out with your family or friends and do your part in keeping the source of our drinking water pristine.
Plan Ahead- Next FOTO Clean Up Saturday, April 3, 2027
Keep Norfolk Beautiful
If you are looking to volunteer please fill out this form.
The coordinator will then reach out with additional details.
October 3rd - Northside Park, 8400 Tidewater Dr, Norfolk, VA 23505 (Meet at Picnic Shelter 2, it is the last shelter on the left near the back) 9am-11am
NAPS Annual Creek Cleanup
Big community event to clean up our creeks & rivers! We need captains with skiffs, trash pickers (for on the skiffs and independently by land, kayak or canoe), and land-based volunteers to help with organization, lunch, and sorting trash. Participants get free lunch & t-shirt! Registration required, signup here! Final location is TBD but expect near Ingram Bay, Mill Creek, Harvey's Creek, Towles Creek, Crane's Creek.
Friends of the Appomattox River (FAR) Cleanup
Join the Friends of the Appomattox River (FAR) for our bi-annual trash clean up from 9-12pm. We will meet at Wilkes Lake parking lot (near the skate park) at 9am. You will need to sign a liability waiver, get clean up supplies (all provided), sign up for an area to clean and take a picture for the paper. This is a land and water clean up so feel free to bring your boat if you prefer to float the Blueway. Download the Clean Swell app in advance for easy data collection (highly recommended).
Friends of Accotink Creek Cleanup
GET YOUR BRAIN WET! Join Friends of Accotink Creek to get trash out of our waterways while participating in the International Coastal Cleanup in Fairfax County. More information and registration at https://www.accotink.org/2026/InternationalCoastalCleanuppre-event2026.htm
Cleanup Locations and Times:
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Hatmark Branch at Vaden Drive
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Accotink Creek at King Arthur Road
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Accotink Creek at Little River Turnpike
Cooper's Scoopers Chicks Beach Cleanup
Join Cooper’s Scoopers for a cleanup on Chic’s Beach!
A small market will be held after the event with small local businesses.
Keep Norfolk Beautiful
If you are looking to volunteer please fill out this form.
The coordinator will then reach out with additional details.
October 24th - Community Beach Park, 700 E Ocean View Ave, Norfolk, VA 23503 (Meet at the Lifeguard/restrooms pavilion) 9am-11am
Gloucester County Clean Community- Gloucester Point Beach Park Cleanup
Help Gloucester County Clean Community cleanup Gloucester Point Beach Park!
Pre-registeration encouraged at gloucesterva.gov/clean-community/events.
Richmond Clean City Commission Cleanup
Please come join Lisa, Bill, and Alex in an [Idealist.org](http://idealist.org/) Event Day clean-up event at Pine Camp Park.
For folks that want to contribute, but aren't a fan of gathering trash we are trying something new: collection tally. As a counter you would follow the collectors to count and keep track of trash by category on a paper form.
While we normally meet at the Trailhead next to Lolly the Bear, this time the event will start at the front door of Pine Camp Arts and Community Center. Follow the long drive way off of Old Brook Road and park in front of the single story community center on the right. It looks like an elementary school.
We'll provide gloves, trash bags, grabbers, and bug spray. Kindly consider bringing your own gloves. I recommend long sleeve shirts and pants, and if you have a pair of waders or waterproof boots. Bring your favorite water bottle.
More info here.
Costal Cleanup Cocktail Kickoff
Join Clean Virginia Waterways and Chesapeake Bay Distillery for a cleanup and after-party to kick-off a month of supporting Clean Virginia Waterways and the start of the Virginia Waterways Cleanup!
For the month of September, 10% of all cocktails and flights purchased at the Chesapeake Bay Distillery tasting room on Virginia Beach Blvd. will be donated to Clean Virginia Waterways. Chesapeake Bay Distillery will feature a Coastal Cleanup Cocktail on their flight list, reminding us that plastics and microplastics can really dampen our spirits . We will start September with a cleanup around the distillery in the ViBe Creative District and celebrate with cocktails (for purchase) and some snacks after the cleanup.
So join the fight to reduce plastic pollution in Virginia by sipping on a locally made cocktail at Chesapeake Bay Distillery
Signup for the event here
Willowsford Conservancy Grant Family Campsite Cleanup and Habitat Restoration
Join the Willowsford Conservancy in clearing overgrown brambles, removing invasive carpet grass and a cleanup along a trail in The Grant Family Campsite (near Amesfield). For more details and to sign up, visit the Willowsford Conservancy: Native Plant & Conservation Volunteer Mornings webpage.