Wake County Big Sweep

Clean community. Clean water. Big change.

We are excited to release our events for spring thus far, with more to come!

Come join Big Sweep’s spring 2022 season! We have multiple zones throughout Wake County. All supplies are provided for cleanups. If you are interested in becoming a Zone Captain or have a potential site, please contact Alexandra.Heinemann@wakegov.com.

Pre-registration is required for most events. Please follow the link associated with the event you’d like to attend. Once at the event page, it will direct you how to sign-up. Check out below for the current upcoming events.

All volunteers must sign a Big Sweep waiver- the waiver covers you for three years if you’d like to volunteer multiple times a year. Waivers must be signed by a legal parent or guardian for any minors under 18.

Please dress for the weather, wear long pants and sturdy, closed-toed shoes. We also recommend volunteers bring drinking water and sun protection.

Events may be cancelled or rescheduled due to severe weather.

Thank you for keeping our rivers, streams, and waterways clean- we couldn’t do it without you. Have fun and we'll see you out there!

At the Event

If this is your first time with Big Sweep, the following is provided at each event:

• Gloves
• 32" Litter Grabbers
• Trash Bags
• Recycling Bags (Visit Solid Waste Management's website for what can be recycled)
• Safety Vests
• Trash Disposal & Recycling

Usually events begin by meeting at a central location, signing in and registering if you haven't already pre-registered, and collecting your gear. Zone Captain's will then gather groups to go over the specifics of the event including locations to be cleaned, hazards, and where to return supplies, trash, and recycling.

Conducting your own cleanup?

The app called “CleanSwell” is run by our partners at Ocean Conservancy. If you would like to conduct your own cleanup at any time, you can download the app. Make sure when you are using the app, you start your Group Name with "Wake-" and finish with a unique name like "Wake-Troop345" or "Wake-SmartElem4th." Try to be specific. Avoid using "FallsLake" or "NeuseRiver," as that may confuse your data with that of many other groups. The app is easy to use, plus it tracks EVERY cleanup and EVERY piece of litter you enter. All the data from CleanSwell is part of an international database and gets tallied into Big Sweep’s final numbers for those who cleaned up in Wake County. For a walk-through and more information on the app please follow the link below.

Please take a moment to fill out the survey below by clicking the "Take the Survey" button below.

We are using this information gathered to understand how to better reach you as Big Sweep Volunteers. We truly appreciate your time and dedication over the years. Filling out this form will help us better serve you and provide you with emails that are in your greatest interests.