Fighting Litter Isn’t Free—But It’s Worth It
Every day, we’re out in Raleigh picking up what others leave behind—bottles in the grass, wrappers on the sidewalk, bags tangled in trees. We do it because we believe a cleaner Raleigh is a stronger Raleigh. But here’s the tough truth: litter costs more than just time and effort. It hits our communities—and organizations like ours—right in the wallet.
A recent report, developed by the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, MountainTrue, Haw River Assembly, Cape Fear River Watch, and the North Carolina Conservation Network, confirms what we see every week: litter is expensive.
In 2023 alone, North Carolina spent $56.3 million on litter cleanup. That total includes costs from both local and state governments, as well as nonprofit organizations. Altogether, that investment removed 14.6 million pounds of litter from across the state.
What really hits home for us is this: North Carolina nonprofits contributed $1.9 million worth of unpaid labor toward litter cleanups in 2023. A total of 44 nonprofit organizations mobilized 28,626 volunteers, who put in 56,400 hours of work. And that number doesn’t even include the expenses of organizing cleanups—like equipment, staff time, and supplies. These nonprofits collected nearly 900,000 pounds of litter in 2023 alone.
As a Raleigh-based nonprofit, The Great Raleigh Cleanup feels those costs firsthand. With the help of volunteers and generous community support, we’ve removed more than 190,000 pounds of litter from our city’s parks, neighborhoods, and greenways. Every piece we collect eases the burden on public services, increases safety and community pride, and helps keep Raleigh beautiful.
We’re incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made—but we also know it’s a shared responsibility.
How You Can Help
💪 Volunteer at one of our cleanup events. It’s hands-on, rewarding, and a great way to meet neighbors while making a real difference.
🏢 Partner with us through corporate cleanups, team service days, or sponsorships.
💸 Donate to support our mission. Your gift helps us equip volunteers, organize events, employ unhoused neighbors, and expand our impact.
Litter shouldn’t cost our communities millions—or strip nonprofits of the resources they need to thrive. But until that changes, we’ll be here—gloves on, bags in hand—working toward a cleaner Raleigh, one block at a time. - Kaley
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