COVID-19 Cleanup Guidelines

Prior to your event:

  • Require registration digitally or over the phone with a cap on volunteers a minimum of 15 days before the event. Waivers may be sent and returned via email or, in some cases, attached to your online registration platform (Google Forms, SignUp Genius, etc.)
  • Require cleanups be held in small groups (families/households) or as individuals only.
  • Stagger event times and locations to allow maximum social distance
  • Require volunteers to submit a wellness self-assessment at time of registration and require them to notify organizers if they develop any symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days prior to the event.
  • Send a follow-up communication to volunteers 24-hrs before your event to confirm lack of symptoms.
  • State if equipment will be provided, including any PPE (masks, gloves, disinfectant), and how that equipment will be distributed and collected (contact-free measures, sanitation), or ask volunteers to provide their own.
  • Encourage volunteers to bring their own food and water. If providing, please ensure that food is single-serve and that any water bottles or containers are wiped down.

At check-in:

  • Do not accept any walk-up registrations.
  • When distributing materials, provide as many contact-free opportunities as possible to protect volunteers and site leaders, including distribution bins or buckets. If providing gloves, disposable is recommended.
  • Require masks for site leaders and volunteers when interacting. and maintain six feet apart where possible.

During the cleanup:

  • If multiple groups are volunteering at the same time, require that they keep their distance from each other.
  • Require that gloves and other PPE is utilized at all times when handling debris.

Post cleanup:

  • If volunteers are returning equipment, provide alternative bins/buckets to help keep the used equipment separated from any unused equipment until what was used has been properly sanitized and cleaned. All disposable equipment (i.e., single-use gloves and masks) must be safely disposed of.
  • Provide hand sanitizer for volunteers post-cleanup.
  • Ensure that all debris collected is tightly secured, minimizing contact with the enclosed items. Do not touch face or clothing after handling debris collected until hands are washed or sanitized.

We encourage you to use your best judgment. If you choose to hold a cleanup, we advise you to follow local ordinances along with health and safety guidelines from the CDC.

 

Helpful links for more information

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Georgia Department of Public Health: https://dph.georgia.gov/

CDC FAQs: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html