Keep Austin Beautiful values the health and safety of our volunteers and staff. Therefore, in accordance with the recommendations of Austin Public Health and the COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines, Keep Austin Beautiful is unable to support or lead large group volunteer projects at this time. However, individuals and members of the same household may still perform cleanups, at their discretion, and we want to provide the information that will help to ensure everyone’s health and safety.
For more information, check out our resource guides below:
- Litter Cleanup in a COVID-19 Environment (full document)
- Guidance for Individual Cleanups (one page)
- Guidance on PPE and Cleanups (one page)
As a result of Austin moving into Stage 5 of the COVID-19 risk-based guidelines, all volunteer activities on parkland have been suspended until further notice.
For more information, visit austintexas.gov
How can you protect yourself?
When picking up litter, Keep Austin Beautiful recommends participants do so responsibly and at their comfort level. Your cleanup group should include only members of your household. Please wear a face mask, and use disposable gloves and a litter grabber. While picking up litter, be sure to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others.
When you finish collecting litter, please make sure your trash bag is securely tied to protect sanitation workers. After disposing of the trash bag properly, immediately wash your hands with soap and water. Lastly, please complete a Project Report form to help us track where individuals are cleaning up around the city.
The City of Austin Public Health Department recommends the following measures to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including flu and COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue to cover it, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. ‘
For more information, please visit the Austin Public Health page.
What resources are available?
Keep Austin Beautiful will provide trash bags to individuals who are picking up litter in their neighborhoods. Trash bags are available in a contactless external locker in our office parking lot, next to the existing tool shed located at 55 N I-35, Austin, TX 78702. Please see the map below for the location of the locker and email keith@keepaustinbeautiful.org for instructions to access the locker. To learn about additional resources, click here.
The Keep Austin Beautiful office is closed to the public until further notice.
All volunteer projects, programming, and resource checkouts (activity kits, cleanup supplies, and tools) are suspended until further notice.
Our team will be working remotely. If you have any questions, please call us at 512-391-0617 or email us at info@keepaustinbeautiful.org
As the situation evolves, we will keep this page updated. Keep Austin Beautiful looks forward to resuming group cleanups when it is safe for large gatherings.
