Clean Your Streams Day is an annual event hosted by Partners For Clean Streams (with help from many partners) where over one thousand volunteers join forces to clean up tons of trash from over 60 sites in rivers in the greater Toledo area. We clean trash from the river during the event, educate our volunteers on marine debris, and celebrate our local, abundant rivers. We focus on high-profile, high-impact sites in need of cleaning. We hope that through Clean Your Streams, citizens take greater pride in their community and rivers, and become environmental stewards. Below are some Frequently Asked Questions about Clean Your Streams:

What day is it?

CYS 26 will be held on Saturday, September 24th, 2022.  If you cannot make the in-person clean-up, a remote on your own option will be offered beginning on Saturday, September 17th, concluding on Saturday, September 24th.

What time does it start and end?

You will meet at your assigned kickoff location between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. The cleanup projects officially begin at 8:30 A.M. and ends at 12 P.M. Afterwards many people stay for an Appreciation Picnic that ends around 2 P.M.

What if I'd like to register more than one group?

If you plan to register more than one group, please contact us. Our registration system can only handle one email associated with each group leader. PCS staff will help you create a custom registration. Call us at 419-874-0727 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What is the Remote Kickoff option for Clean Your Streams?

Starting in 2020, some volunteers wanted to clean-up and record data on their own, outside of an official kickoff on Clean Your Streams Day. If you want to be a Remote Virtual volunteer, pick your own stream-side site to clean, and complete a clean-up at your convenience any time between September 17 and September 24. Record your data using Partners for Clean Streams’ Clean Swell app. Remote Virtual Clean-Up volunteers are still welcome to attend the Clean Your Streams volunteer appreciation picnic on the afternoon of September 25.

What is a data card?

Your Kickoff Coordinator will pass these out the day of the event. These cards are used to record types of trash you find which are used for local and international programs as part of the International Coastal clean-up.

What is Clean Swell? How do I use it?

Clean Swell is a virtual data card in the form of an app on your phone. Once you create an account and sign in, you can start recording the trash collected for Clean Your Streams Day. A step-by-step video on how to use Clean Swell can be found here.

We ask that you use "CYS26 [Your Group Name]” when you start your entry for the day so we can easily find your clean-up after you have completed your clean-up.

How old do I need to be to participate? 

We generally recommend that participants are over the age of 4, though any age is welcome (see note below regarding the UT Kickoff Location). You can expect to walk on a stream bank or uneven ground, picking up various types of trash. For younger participants, we pick sites that are kid-friendly, such as a park. *Volunteers registering for the UT Kickoff must be 18 years or older. If these new criteria present a problem to you or individuals in your group, please contact us for more information and suggestions.

What do I wear?

Preferably long pants and a short or long sleeve t-shirt with closed-toed shoes. The entire event is held outside, so dress for the weather.

What is a kickoff location?

Volunteers will meet at one of 7 kickoff locations and then spread out to over 60 different cleanup sites. A kickoff location is where your group meets up before traveling to your clean-up location.

Where and when do I register?

A registration link will be provided here close to the event date.

What is a challenge award and how do I win one?

During the cleanup, volunteers keep track of how many bags they fill and record that on the Challenge Registration form to be completed and returned at the Appreciation Picnic. Combined with the number of bags collected and the number of volunteers from the group, Challenge winners are determined. The Challenge Winners are announced at the picnic and presented with awards and trophies. 

What is a group leader?

A group leader is responsible for the coordination of their organization; including registration of all the volunteers you recruited from your group, collecting liability forms, designating site captains that get trained, completing, and submitting the Challenge Entry Form for your organization.

What is a site captain and what do they do?

Site Captains are responsible for the coordination of a group or team at a designated site, including assignment of team jobs (i.e. recorder, collector), having first aid materials (provided), knowing emergency numbers (provided), gives/takes supplies, and turning in extra supplies, completed data cards, and completed Site Captain Reports at the Supply Station at the Appreciation Picnic. Each group of over 10 participants is required to have 1 Site Captain for every 10 volunteers. Training for Site Captains are required and are usually scheduled for the week before Clean Your Streams Day.

What are the responsibilities of the volunteers?

Volunteers are responsible for the collection of trash and recording what types of trash are found on data cards. Your Site Captain or Group Leader will assign recorders and collectors. Recorders are responsible for recording what the collectors pick up and writing it on data cards. Collectors are responsible for picking up the trash and letting the recorders know what they find. Volunteers are also responsible for filling out their liability forms. 

Further questions can be directed to 419-874-0727 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.