How do I safely pick up roadside litter?
We recommend you wear gloves, supervise children, and inspect any items found before touching them – if in doubt, don’t pick it up. Some people prefer handheld trash-picking tools, for extra protection.

What bags should I use to collect trash, now that PAYT is at the Transfer Station? There is a supply of free yellow bags available at the Weston Town Hall which residents can use for this cleanup. The Transfer Station will accept these yellow bags without charging a fee. Alternatively, participants can use their own PAYT bags.

What should I do with the trash I collect? Please photograph your trash and share the picture on our Facebook page along with the location where it was found. Of course, extra credit is given to pictures that include cute pets and children!

I want to participate but worry that I won’t find any litter. Can you point me to an area I can clean?
The simplest action is to pick up litter on your own street. Previous participants have uniformly told us: “I didn’t think I would find much, but once I started looking, oh boy, there was a lot of litter!”. Litter is more likely to be found in the more natural or wooded parts of roadsides, so look closely where natural landscapes border on your street or trail.

Should I separate any recyclables?
Our main goal is to beautify our town and environment, and to protect wildlife and waterways from plastic waste. So, if the idea of carrying several bags for different recyclables bogs you down, simply skip that option. The condition of many items, even if they were recyclable at one point, is highly degraded. This is particularly true for most plastics found. If you feel motivated to recycle, the best items to separate are beer cans – you will find many, and recycling them is worthwhile and effective.

For additional questions, feel free to email WestonTownCleanup@gmail.com. Please also follow us on Facebook for updates!