About

Pilsen Community Cleanup began in 2026 with a group of Pilsen residents. Every Saturday morning, we pick up litter on our streets and maintain the trash cans we’ve placed throughout the neighborhood.

We meet at different locations around Pilsen, from Benito Juarez High School to Lozano Chicago Public Library. From there, we choose a route and walk it with grabbers, bags, and gloves—all provided. Everyone is welcome!

We also own and maintain a handful of handmade trash cans in the neighborhood (not city-owned). We welcome neighbors to adopt and maintain their own handmade trash can, especially in areas without a City trash can. Our map is the only list of handmade cans and shows each one's location and condition.

We encourage neighbors to report problem spots via our form. We visit the area, organize a cleanup, and invite the responsible City department—Streets and Sanitation or the Park District—to inspect it. We request fixes that don't rely solely on volunteers

To reach us: the volunteer form or Instagram, @pilsencommunitycleanup.