Chicago vs Philly Clean-Off

We’ve got BEEF with Philly. They think they can pick up more trash than we can? Let’s show them why we’re called the City of Big Shoulders!

Get ready for an epic showdown! This October, Chicago and Philly are going head-to-head to prove which city can pick up the most trash in just one month. It’s a friendly rivalry with a powerful purpose cleaning our streets, building pride in our neighborhoods, and ending the culture of litter and dumping! Cleanup Club Chicago is leading on the Chicago side, and Block By Block Philly is leading on the Philly side. The top pickers on each side will be eligible for prizes!

​This is more than a cleanup. It’s a movement. Thousands of people across both cities will be hitting the streets, parks, and blocks to make their communities shine and every bag of trash counts!

How it Works

  1. Pick Your Spot
    Clean your block, a park, a street corner, or any area within Chicago or Philadelphia city limits.

  2. Bag the Trash
    Use paper bags whenever possible. Count your bags and take a photo. (Let us know if you need bags!)

  3. Submit Your Cleanup
    Every cleanup needs to be logged through our form.

  4. Track the Scoreboard
    We’ll be tallying every submission and updating the online scoreboard regularly so you can see which city is leading.

  5. Celebrate with Us
    We will have a celebratory cleanup on November 1st in the Armour Square area for all to join, and the Philly side will be having a block party.

The Rules

  • All trash must be collected within Philly or Chicago city limits.

  • Submissions require a photo for verification.

  • Bag/bucket counts must be included.

  • Only volunteer efforts count (city employees or contractors cannot participate on the clock.)

  • Cleanup group leads can only submit totals from group events.

  • Individuals can submit as many times as they like throughout the month- you are encouraged to submit right after doing your cleaning , as we will need the date/location and other info for each cleanup.

Have any questions? Reach out to cleanupclubchicago@gmail.com

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Want to sponsor this event? Please email us at cleanupclubchicago@gmail.com

Other Supporters:

Chicago Fire FC

Founded in July 2020, Cleanup Club Chicago is a dedicated group of Chicago residents who care about the environment and taking care of our community. We combat litter by organizing group cleanups on both land and water, promoting individual cleanup challenges, collaborating with the city to tackle litter removal and reduction, and fostering a culture that discourages wasteful practices. We maintain a network of Cleanup Captains across the city, enabling us to engage with a diverse array of neighborhoods. We now have nonprofit status through the Illinois Environmental Council!


As of August 31st, 2025:

  • We have over 1,100 members across Chicago

  • We have collected over 4,800 kitchen-sized bags of litter, weighing more than 41,000 lbs

  • We have completed 100 group cleanup events

We’ve got BIG PLANS for the future. Click HERE to learn more.

Become a Member

For questions related to sponsorship,
press/media inquiries, and student projects, please contact us at cleanupclubchicago@gmail.com.

*Please note that we are volunteers and appreciate serious inquiries out of respect for our time.

Visit this page for more information on collaborating on a group cleanup.

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