Keeping our city streets clean and vibrant is a community effort, and you can be a part of it! Seattle’s Adopt A Street program offers a fantastic opportunity for residents, businesses, and organizations to take ownership and contribute to a litter-free environment. Thousands of volunteers are already making a significant impact by cleaning up hundreds of miles of streets across Seattle – streets where we live, work, learn, and play. Join us and discover how you can adopt a street and help maintain the beauty of our city, one street at a time.
The impact of Adopt a Street volunteers is truly impressive. To see the collective efforts and the difference being made, explore the Adopt a Street Dashboard and witness the positive change happening across Seattle thanks to dedicated individuals like you.
What Does it Mean to Adopt a Street?
Adopting a street is a commitment to regularly clean up litter within a street segment you choose. When you adopt a street, you’re not alone. The program provides comprehensive support, including free cleanup supplies and safety equipment. Furthermore, the city ensures the collected litter is picked up and properly disposed of. Your efforts are also tracked, highlighting the amazing collective impact of volunteers working to keep every street in our city litter-free.
Getting Involved is Easy! Sign Up Today
Volunteering to adopt a street is designed to be both enjoyable and adaptable to your lifestyle. Whether you prefer to clean up solo, incorporate it into your commute to work or school, or engage your business, school group, club, or faith-based organization, the flexibility is yours.
Many volunteers choose to adopt a street on their own block, a street along their daily commute, or perhaps a street near a favorite park. Curious to see which streets are already adopted or which streets are waiting for your help? Check out the adopted streets map for more information.
If the street you have in mind is already adopted, co-adoption is a great option. Sharing the responsibility helps minimize the workload for individual volunteers and expands the positive impact.
Earn Recognition: The Adopt a Street Sign
For individuals or groups wanting to make a more significant and recognized commitment, the Adopt a Street sign program offers a fantastic opportunity. To qualify for a street sign recognizing your efforts, commit to adopting at least 1 mile of street, conduct a minimum of four cleanups per year for two years or more, and contribute at least 75 combined volunteer hours. It’s a visible way to showcase your dedication to keeping Seattle streets clean.
Ready to adopt a street? Complete the Adopt a Street Sign-up Form to indicate your desired street location and provide your contact information. The program team will then confirm your adoption or reach out if there are any questions.
If online signup isn’t feasible, simply contact the program, and they will gladly assist you with the signup process.
Start Your Street Cleanup with Provided Supplies
To ensure a safe and effective cleanup experience, the Adopt a Street program provides all necessary equipment and supplies free of charge.
Volunteers can request litter grabbers, safety vests, gloves, garbage bags, yard waste bags, sharps containers, and other supplies as needed. Simply complete the online supply request form to get the supplies delivered to you.
Safety is paramount during every cleanup. All Adopt a Street volunteers are required to adhere to the following safety guidelines:
- Always wear provided safety equipment, such as safety vests and gloves.
- Sign a Volunteer Sign in and Acknowledgement Waiver to be covered under the City’s Volunteer Insurance Program.
For detailed safety information, please review the safety procedures document and watch the helpful safety video.
Report Your Cleanup Success
Reporting your cleanup efforts is crucial for the Adopt a Street program. Your reports allow the city to track the program’s overall success and the incredible contributions of each volunteer. Your participation in reporting is highly valued!
After each cleanup, please submit a Cleanup Report Form online. For guidance, download the Cleanup Report User Guide and watch the how-to video.
If online reporting is not possible, you can email or call the program with the following details: number of volunteers, total volunteer hours, cleanup location, number of bags collected, and the bag pick-up location (intersection or address, and a photo if possible).
Explore the Adopted Streets Stats to see the collective impact you and other Adopt a Street volunteers are making throughout Seattle.
For litter pickup of 2 or more full bags, Adopt a Street provides collection and disposal services. You can request this service when submitting your cleanup report. For cleanups resulting in less than 2 full bags, the FAQs offer additional recommendations for bag pickup.
When requesting litter pickup, please place bags on the edge of the sidewalk, closest to the street, ensuring they are not obstructing pedestrian pathways and not on private property.
Get in Touch
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact the Adopt a Street program team.
