Clean up Langley Day

Thank you for joining Clean Up Langley Day on April 13, 2024.

The event brought together families, individuals, businesses, and community groups in the Township of Langley to help keep the Township litter-free.

Participants chose to work in a specific neighbourhood or park, and all necessary supplies—gloves, safety vests, garbage pickers, and garbage bags—were provided by the Township to those who registered in advance (by March 30, 2024).

Cleanups took anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, and are a great opportunity to make a difference, get to know your neighbours, and become environmental stewards of your community at the same time.

More information on future Clean up Langley Days will be available here when the next date is confirmed.

Clean up Langley Day 2024

Date: Saturday, April 13
Time: 9:00am – 2:00pm

Community Cleanup Events

Community	Host Organization	Meeting Spot	Start Time
Aldergrove	Bertrand Creek Enhancement Society	Corner of 265A Street and Fraser Highway (along Fraser Greenway - Aldergrove)	10am
Brookswood	Langley Elks #259	#6 4044 200B Street	9:30am
Fort Langley	Omni Kitchen + Bar	In front of Omni Kitchen + Bar at 9044 Glover Road	10am
Fort Langley	Rotary Sunrise Club	Corner of 96 Avenue and McKinnon Crescent	9am
Walnut Grove	Walnut Grove Community Park Cleanup	Walnut Grove Community Park at 89 Avenue and Walnut Grove Drive	10am
Walnut Grove	Walnut Grove Starbucks	8840 210 Street	12:30pm
Willoughby	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints	Chapel located at 20370 82 Avenue	9am
Willoughby	Langley Hongkonger Neighbourhood Society Cleanup	Yorkson Community Park at 2059 84 Avenue	10am
Willoughby	Langley Meadows Community Association	Langley Meadows Elementary School at 2244 Willoughby Way	9am
Willowbrook	Strong Towns Langley	Smart Centres Langley at 20202 66 Avenue	11:30am

Registration

Registration for Clean Up Langley Day is now closed. You are still welcome and encouraged to host your own private clean up events, but we are no longer able to provide clean up supplies for those registering after the registration deadline, which was March 30, 2024.

Frequently asked questions

How do I register?

Registration is now closed for the 2024 event to allow enough time for supplies to be organized and distributed for registered volunteers.

How do I dispose of the garbage we collect?

Garbage can be disposed of in three ways:

Pre-Register to Have Your Garbage Collected on Event Day: If you are hosting a cleanup and and are expecting to collect a lot of litter, place the garbage in a specific location after your cleanup. This location will have to be clearly indicated on your registration form. After the event, Sierra Waste will pick up the garbage if it is in the designated area (e.g., at the front of a park, end of a driveway, on the side of a road). Please ensure that the material is not blocking or impeding traffic or site lines.
Note: For this option, you will need to pre-determine where you will place the garbage and note this in your registration. Have the garbage ready for the hauler to pick up by 2pm.

Place at Curb on Collection Day: If you are conducting your own cleanup and you receive municipal garbage pick up, you can place small amounts outside with household garbage. Sierra Waste will pick up garbage from your cleanup if it is placed beside your garbage cart on collection day and in the appropriate clean up bag. For this option, be sure to place the garbage collected from the cleanup in the orange or yellow bags provided with the logo visible from the street.

Fill Out a Clean Up Report: If you do not receive municipal garbage collection OR if you forgot to request a pickup in your initial registration form, you can request a pickup by filling out an online Clean Up Report or by calling 604-532-7300. Make sure that the waste is left in one visible location by the road (not blocking or impeding traffic or site lines) and that it is all collected in the orange or yellow bags provided for the cleanup (with the logo visible from the street).

What supplies will be provided?

For those who register in advance (by March 30, 2024), the Township will provide:

Gloves
Safety Vests
Garbage Pickers
Program-specific garbage bags

In the days leading up to the event, hosts can arrange to pick up their supplies, which must be booked in advance. Hosts are also required to arrange for supplies to be dropped back following the event (not including bags of garbage, that should be disposed of appropriately).

How long does a cleanup last?

Cleanups can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. All groups must be finished by 2pm. This will give the hauler time to collect the garbage.

Why host a cleanup? What does hosting involve?

Hosting a cleanup is easy and fun! You get to spend quality time outdoors with your friends (and maybe even make some new ones), remove litter from your community, and inspire others to take initiative and clean up regularly.
As a host, you get to lead your team and organize your crew’s efforts. Don’t worry—we are here to help you along the way. Once we process your registration, we’ll post your organization’s name and cleanup location, inviting others to join your group. When volunteers sign up to join your cleanup crew, we’ll let you know. We’ll also ensure you have enough cleanup supplies, signage, and provide you a list of who to expect on Clean Up Langley Day. On the day of the event, your hosting duties will include operating a welcome station for the volunteers joining your cleanup, handing out supplies, outlining safety guidelines, and suggesting cleanup routes. You’ll also coordinate for all collected garbage to be placed at the designated pick-up spot at the end of the event.

Do you have more questions about Clean Up Langley Day? Contact us by emailing adopt@tol.ca or giving us a call at 604-532-7300

Guide to safe litter cleanup

Review these safety guidelines with volunteers prior to starting your cleanup.

Who is the contact and what is their role?

Determine a representative from your group to be the contact person.

The contact person is responsible for submitting all required documentation and serves as the liaison between the Township and any volunteers represented. The contact is also responsible for reminding volunteers to use good judgment and safe practice during clean up activities. The items in this guide should be discussed with the group prior to each clean up event.

Remember: safety first! Under no circumstance is the welfare of a participant to be compromised during cleanup activities.

General Safety Tips

Avoid horseplay while working.
Keep an adequate supply of water.
Report your cleanup activities to your program coordinator as indicated on the Clean Up Report
form. Include significant irregularities and report injuries immediately.
Always wear the safety vests provided or other high-visibility clothing.
Do not use alcohol or drugs while working. Smoking and vaping are not permitted during cleanups.
Participants should wear suitable footwear – boots or closed-toe shoes.
Dress appropriately for the weather (sunscreen, hat, warm gloves, etc.).
Avoid use of headphones/earbuds or restrictive clothing.

Working on Streets

Work on one side of the street at a time.
Pick up litter walking against traffic. This ensures all volunteers are facing oncoming traffic and are aware of dangers.
Leave garbage bags at each Adopt-a-Program sign, if possible. If bags are too heavy, leave them at the location where filled.

Emergencies

Keep a cell phone handy or know where the nearest phone is.
Have transportation available.
Know the quickest route to the nearest hospital in case of a serious injury.

Safety checklist

Discuss the cleanup route.
Take note of any areas of concern or potential danger, such as high traffic areas or locations where there is limited vision of approaching traffic.
Supervise minors.
Ensure a responsible adult is present to supervise minors.
Prepare your materials.
Make sure you have all tools and materials required to complete your task safely and efficiently. Check that your equipment is in good working condition.
Review safety instructions with participants:

- Watch for vehicles and bicycles.
  Drivers may not expect to see volunteers working; participants should watch for approaching vehicles.
- Obey traffic regulations.
  Volunteers should obey all signals and traffic lights and use intersections and marked crosswalks, where available.
- Handle dangerous refuse carefully.
  See table below for further reporting.
- Never reach blindly to pick up an item.
  Use a tool or stick to identify the item before picking it up.
- Work in pairs if possible.
  Working in pairs is safer than working alone as it allows volunteers to look out for each other.

Contact numbers

In the event of an emergency	9-1-1
Needle pick up	604-812-5277
To report an environmental spill	1-800-663-3456
Adopt-a-Program information and sign requests	604-532-7300 adopt@tol.ca
Illegal dumping, hazardous waste pick up, and other Township inquiries	604-532-7300 opsinfo@tol.ca

How to handle different materials

Hazardous & Bio-hazardous items (syringes, chemicals, roadkill, etc.)	Volunteers must not handle hazardous litter. Objects containing corrosive chemicals (e.g. car batteries) or objects that bio-hazard items – used condoms, diapers, gloves, face masks, tissues and wipes may carry harmful bacteria or disease (e.g. dead animals, syringes, etc.) should not be touched. Flag the location where items are found and report for pickup using the online Clean Up Report form or by calling the Township of Langley.
Broken glass and other sharp items	Dangerous refuse such as broken glass or other sharp objects must be handled carefully to avoid injury. Litter pickers are provided for this purpose. If you choose to pick up dangerous items, it is a good idea to designate one person to handle such items with a litter picker, especially if children work in your group. Put broken or sharp objects in a rigid container or wrap in paper before putting in the bag.
Large and heavy items	Do not lift large or heavy items. Instead make note of the location and report for pickup using the online Clean Up Report form or by calling the Township of Langley.
Recyclables	If clean (not full of dirt or liquid), recyclables such as bottles and cans can be separated and placed in the blue box or returned to a Recycling Depot for recycling. If the item is too dirty, it must be disposed of as garbage.