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What is The Polar Pick Up?
The Polar Pick Up is whatever we — collectively — make it. Our goal is to encourage every person who believes in a better Milwaukee to think about the actions we can all take today to clean up the litter in our city, no matter how small. Every little bit helps.
Who Can Plan a Clean Up Event?
Anyone can plan a clean up event. To get started, all you need to do is think about is who in your circle will show up to make a difference, and then ask them to join you. For some people, this will be your classmates or coworkers. For others it might be family or friends. Still others will find their tightest circle in their place of worship. It's even okay to go it alone. Anyone can organize.
Where Should a Clean Up Event Take Place?
To achieve the vision of a trash free Milwaukee, clean up events will eventually need to happen everywhere. But the middle of January might not be the best time to take on the highway entrance ramp or the vacant lot you pass by on your bus route. The goal of The Polar Pick up is to show how much collective good we can do when we all pitch in 10 minutes here and 20 minutes there in the kinds of places that are important to each of us: our school and church neighborhoods, our city libraries, where we live and where we work. Plan an event in an area important to you.
Ideas for a Polar Pick Up
(But really, anything works, even picking up the trash your see while you're out walking your dog.)
Block by block
Block by block
A perfect event to do solo or with a family member, coworker, or friend. Start at your apartment, job, or favorite hangout spot, grab a grocery bag or two, and walk around the block picking up any trash from the sidewalks and gutters. Cross the street and do the other side.
Every little bit helps. Get started today!
street sweeper
street sweeper
Ideal for those busy streets. Choose a starting location, walk down the street in one direction picking up any trash from the sidewalk and gutter (and even the boulevard or median if they're clear of snow). Cross the street and do the same on the other side as you head back to where you started from.
block party
block party
The same idea as Block by Block, but expanded to the 8 blocks around your starting point. Can you imagine the impact if every public school, the over 600 houses of worship, and all private schools and universities took the initiative to host an event?
Anyone can organize. Get started today!
Getting Started
- Choose a Location
It's winter in Milwaukee. Pick a location that has easy access to indoors: the blocks around your house, school, dorm, church, job, or favorite hangout are perfect starting places.
2. ask for help
2. ask for help
Think about the teams you're already a part of and convenient times to get together: church youth group after services, basketball team before practice, coworkers on your lunch break, fellow dog walkers during your daily walk, etc.
3. Pick a Date and time
3. Pick a Date and time
This is winter in Milwaukee, so scan those forecasts and be willing to be flexible. It's okay to reschedule if the weather doesn't cooperate.
4. Clean Up
4. Clean Up
Remind your volunteers to dress for the weather and let them know what supplies to bring. Bring extra supplies, just in case. Don't forget rubber gloves to wear over your warmer ones. Wet fingers get colder faster.
5. build momentum
5. build momentum
Take pictures to post on your success on social media. Encourage your volunteers to organize their own clean up events. Reach out to other people you know to plan their own events. And tally your event with Trash Free MKE to help us meet our goal of 100 small clean up events this winter.
Participation in trash pick up events is voluntary and up to the discretion of each individual. Trash Free MKE is not liable for any injuries that may occur as a result of picking up trash. Please observe the following precautions when engaging in any trash pick up event.
Precautions
Winter weather in Milwaukee doesn't always cooperate. Reschedule, if necessary.
Bundle up and wear rubber gloves over your warmer ones. Wet fingers get cold quickly.
Bring the proper supplies. Reusing doubled up plastic grocery bags can be effective for small amounts of plastic bottles and cardboard scraps. But heavy duty trash bags might be necessary for heavier items. Consider contacting Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful at 414-272-5462. According to their website, they can provide buckets and trash bags, and even loans tools for your cleanup event. Click here for more information about KGMB.
Sharp objects like broken bottles and needles require special handling. It's best to leave them be and contact city sanitation for clean up at 414-286-CITY (2489).
Stick to public spaces like sidewalks and parks. Only clean up gutters and medians that are snow free and on days when the roads aren't slippery. Wear bright colors and consider safety vests. Always err on the side of caution.
Though the days are getting longer, it still gets dark quickly. To be safe, plan clean up events that will finish before 4:00 pm.
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