A nonprofit volunteer group tackling Chicago鈥檚 litter pollution problems through cleanups, city outreach,
and promoting waste reduction.

Become a Member
Event Sponsorship and Private Cleanups
Chicago vs Philly Clean-Off

Founded in July 2020, Cleanup Club Chicago is a dedicated group of Chicago residents who care about the environment and taking care of our community. We combat litter by organizing group cleanups on both land and water, promoting individual cleanup challenges, collaborating with the city to tackle litter removal and reduction, and fostering a culture that discourages wasteful practices. We maintain a network of Cleanup Captains across the city, enabling us to engage with a diverse array of neighborhoods. We now have nonprofit status through the


As of August 31st, 2025:

  • We have over 1,100 members across Chicago

  • We have collected over 5,000 kitchen-sized bags of litter, weighing more than 43,000 lbs

  • We have completed 106 group cleanup events

We鈥檝e got BIG PLANS for the future. Click HERE to learn more.

Logo/Banner Credit: Kara Cooke

2025 Event Schedule

Cleanups and other events are added to this page on a rolling basis, once details are set.

2025 Cleanups

  • March 22:

  • Earth Month Cleanup Challenge: Trashapalooza!

  • April 5: (in Ravenswood)

  • April 6 (Morning): (Afternoon):

  • April 12: Rescheduled

  • April 26:

  • May 10:

  • May 17:

  • May 31:

  • June 7: Tabling at (Ravenswood)

  • June 12:

  • June 19: DB Sterlin Private Cleanup

  • June 21: Tabling at REFest (Bucktown)

  • June 22:

  • July 12:

  • July 13:

  • July 13:

  • July 24:

  • July 26: Cleanup

  • July 31: NW Branch Kayak Cleanup

  • August 1-31: August Zone Battle

  • August 9:

  • August 17: Portage Park Farmer鈥檚 Market

  • August 28:

  • August 30: - Our 100th Cleanup event!!!!

  • Sept 5:

  • Sept 7:

  • Sept 11:

  • Sept 13:

  • Sept 14: North Branch Canoeing Cleanup from Clark Park (Members Only)

  • Sept 21:

  • Sept 28: Reduce Waste Sustainability Market

  • Oct 1-31: Chicago vs Philly Clean-Off

  • Oct 4:

  • Oct 5: Portage Park Farmer鈥檚 Market

  • Oct 11:

  • Oct 25:

  • Oct 26:

  • Nov 1:

  • Nov 8: GWA Pumpkin Smash in Humboldt Park

Meet Our Captains

  • Nicole Stratman

    Cleanup Coordinator

  • Rick Rosales

    South Side Captain

  • Seemi Siddiqui

    North Side Captain

  • Bennett Chan

    West Side Captain

  • Ilana Morgan-Lopez

    West Side Captain

  • Lizzy Sanders

    North Side Captain

  • Anthony Nissen

    North Side Captain

  • Jonathan Horak

    North Side Captain

  • Maddie Edwards

    South Side Captain

  • Cullyn Doerfler

    North Side Captain

  • Brad Zibung

    West Side Captain

  • Marnie Thompson

    North Side Captain

  • Amaya Adams

    South Side Captain

  • Annette Anderson

    Annette Anderson

    West Side Captain

Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors!

Other Supporters:

Ian Padovan

Rick Rosales

The Seagraves Family


Want to sponsor us? Please email us at cleanupclubchicago@gmail.com

Pilsen Cleanup in mid 2021
River Cleanup in 2020 at Wateriders Northwest
Bronzeville Cleanup in mid 2021 at King Drive
Litter accumulation in the north branch of the Chicago River
UIC Student Service Day Cleanup in April 2021 at Addams Medill Park
River Cleanup at Wateriders Northwest in 2021

Become a Member

For questions related to sponsorship,
press/media inquiries, and student projects, please contact us at cleanupclubchicago@gmail.com.

*Please note that we are volunteers and appreciate serious inquiries out of respect for our time.

Visit this page for more information on collaborating on a group cleanup.

In the News

WGN (11/06/2025)

NBC Chicago Today (9/3/2025)

Chicago Star (6/6/2025)

Axios Chicago (4/14/2025)

WBEZ Reset (4/1/2025)

The Loyola Phoenix (10/23/2024)

NBC Chicago Today (6/29/2022)

Friends of the Chicago River (12/17/2021)

WBEZ Reset (12/9/2021)

Block Club (12/1/2021)