Available Supplies:

• Trash Bags

• Gloves (cloth with rubber grips)

• Safety vests

• Litter Pick-up Safety Tips to review with your cleanup participants

Note that this program does not have litter grabbers/pickers as an available supply.

Disposal Options:

• Use Personal Trash Container

• Please note, that if a bin is overfilled, charges may be imposed by Solid Waste that cannot be reimbursed by the program.

• We ask that you submit activity reports to the Program Coordinator after each cleanup, especially if you are interested in joining the Adopt-a-Spot Program.
  Request a Landfill pass from the City prior to your cleanup(s)

• A landfill pass allows one vehicle to enter the Tacoma Recovery and Transfer Center one-time and expires one month after the creation date. The pass must be printed out and handed to Solid Waste staff upon entry.

• Contact the City after your cleanup(s) to request a pickup from Solid Waste

• To request disposal, call 311 when within city limits (or (253) 591-5000 when outside city limits) to submit a pickup request to City staff.
• As the individual who signed up for the program, we ask that you remain the main point of contact for supply and disposal requests. If someone else will be taking over as the coordinator for your area, please have them complete the registration in TacomaFIRST 311.

Hazardous Waste and Illegal Dumping: Report the exact location of the item and the description to TacomaFIRST 311 by calling 311 when within city limits (or (253) 591-5000 when outside city limits)

• Hazardous waste items should never be placed in a trash bag. Keep these items separate from the litter picked up on the road and report them to 311.

• To report Hypodermic Needles/Syringes, call 311 or submit a request online

• Large items found on public property/rights-of-way (like bags of trash, furniture, appliances, construction debris, etc.) should be reported as illegal dumping to 311

• To report Illegal Dumping, call 311 or submit a request online

The Adopt-a-Spot Program provides the same supplies and disposal that were available to you as a Neighborhood Litter Patroller. Additionally, there is an option to install a recognition sign to be posted in the area that you are committing to keep litter-free. 

If you choose to join the Adopt-a-Spot Program, we ask that you commit to:

Staying enrolled in the Adopt-a-Spot Program for at least two (2) additional years after joining the program.

• Holding at least four (4) cleanups per year
• If cleanup activity is not reported to the program coordinator, your participation in the Adopt-a-Spot Program may be discontinued and your sign may be removed. If so, you can continue picking up litter in the Neighborhood Litter Patrol Program, but you will need to become an eligible Neighborhood Litter Patroller again in order to re-enroll in the Adopt-a-Spot Program.

NOTE: If an adopter does not meet the program guidelines, their account may be inactivated, and their sign removed, making that space available for another community member to adopt.

Through the Adopt-a-Spot Program, there is also an opportunity for people to adopt traffic circles which allows adopters to garden or paint a mural within a traffic circle. If an adopter is maintaining a traffic circle, they must submit cleanup reports to the program coordinator to track their activity in the program in order to receive a recognition sign.

In addition to picking up litter around the traffic circle, an adopter can: 

• Garden in a traffic circle: the adopter would be responsible for weeding and keeping the traffic circle well-kempt. Plants must be non-invasive, have no noxious weeds, and low growing (I.e., will grow less than 3 feet in height at maximum growth). If you choose to adopt and plant flowers in a traffic circle, the City can provide TAGRO mix up to once a year to help establish plants.
• Paint a mural in a traffic circle: For traffic circles that are paved, you can request to paint a mural by submitting a plan and petition to Public Works for review. More information, including a template for the plan and petition, can be found using this link.

Currently Adopted Spots

How to Plan for a Cleanup

• Submit a request in the TacomaFIRST 311 system to enroll in the Neighborhood Litter Patrol Program (if you have not already enrolled in the program.)
• Set your cleanup date
• Organize and provide outreach to folks who you would like to participate in your cleanup. Contact the program coordinator at email or by calling 311 when within city limits (or (253) 591-5000 when outside city limits) to request supplies and confirm your preferred disposal method.

NOTE: Supply requests must be made at least one (1) week in advance of your cleanup.

• Pick up your supplies from the Customer Service Desk (2nd floor) of the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street.) The Customer Service Desk is open Monday-Friday, 8 AM-5 PM, excluding holidays.
• Hold your cleanup and ensure that you (and your participants) are following the Litter Pick-up Safety Tips throughout the cleanup.
• Dispose of bags given your chosen disposal method.

NOTE: If bags were placed in a personal trash container, submit a cleanup report by contacting the program coordinator at litter@cityoftacoma.org or by calling 311 when within city limits (or (253) 591-5000 when outside city limits.) 

More citywide trash/litter resources can be found here.  

For additional resources: 

• Visit Pierce County’s Adopt-a-Road Program for more information about participating in litter cleanup efforts outside the city limits of Tacoma within Pierce County
• Visit WSDOT’s Adopt-a-Highway Program for more information about opportunities to pick up litter along the highway
• Visit Metro Parks’ CHIP-in! Program for more information about maintaining and revitalizing local parks and natural areas in Tacoma