Clean Up Your Community
Clean Up Your Community
In 2024, Water Resources hosted 38 events where over 600 volunteers removed 31,225 pounds of trash, debris, and tires from Gwinnett County waterways. Volunteer cleanups make a real and immediate impact on water quality and improve the health of the local ecosystem. Not to mention that participants are often surprised at how enjoyable and satisfying cleanups can be!
Cleanup events happen year-round, in all areas of the county. Since they cover a range of interests and offer different levels of intensity, there is a cleanup opportunity for everyone! You can even host your own cleanup and get your community group or neighborhood involved. To find out about conducting a cleanup project in your neighborhood, email DWRInfo@gwinnettcounty.com.
DWR also holds a few watershed cleanups throughout the year in partnership with Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. Watershed cleanups involve working in a larger area, generally throughout an entire watershed, and doing more than just picking up trash. Activities may include trash picking, invasive plant species removal, Adopt-a-Stream water monitoring, storm drain stenciling, and public education. There truly is something for everyone at these watershed cleanups.
Attention all high school and college students—did you know that cleanups can also count toward your community service hours? Check out our upcoming cleanup opportunities below.
Upcoming Cleanup Opportunities
Upcoming volunteer opportunities can be found on VolunteerGwinnett.net by searching the Interest Category for Water Resources.
Host Your Own Cleanup!
You can hold a cleanup of your very own. Is there a stream in your neighborhood that's in need of a little extra attention? Water Resources has created a Stream Cleanup Guide, so that with just a few simple tips, you can host your own cleanup event. This guide will walk you through the safety considerations, necessary supplies, and the positive impacts you can have on your watershed when you host an event for your neighborhood, club, class, or organization.
Cleanup Opportunities
Stream Cleanups:
Volunteers work together to collect trash and debris from streams, floodplains, wetlands, and roadsides, leaving the environment cleaner for the public and safer for wildlife.
Invasive Plant Species Management:
Volunteers help remove invasive plant species that outcompete native plants and harm the environment.
Native Plantings:
Volunteers plant vegetation native to Georgia in order to improve ecosystem health near waterways.
Storm Drain Marking:
Volunteers work to protect our water resources from stormwater pollution by placing medallions reading “NO DUMPING...ONLY RAIN IN THE DRAIN” on storm drains and distributing educational door hangers.
