WORCESTER—The city has relaunched and expanded its Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) program, adding new online resources and widening community access to cleanup tools and events — while one city councilor is pushing for permanent free bulk waste drop-offs to further those goals.
The announcement Friday follows City Manager Eric D. Batista’s pledge to begin a month-long “all-hands-on-deck” cleanup effort throughout August. The updated program features a revamped page on the municipal website, renewed and regular public reporting to city council, and a spotlight on ongoing efforts such as the Clean Streets Collective (CSC).
“With the relaunch of Keep Worcester Clean we are reaffirming the municipality’s commitment to cleanliness and ensuring all of our trash, recycling, and beautification programs and initiatives are under the same umbrella,” Batista said in the announcement. “Keeping a city our size clean is no easy feat, but by redoubling our efforts, enhancing partnerships, and providing the public with a central place to go for information to do their part, we can make it achievable.”
The updated KWC web page serves as a one-stop portal for residents to access information about city programs, request assistance for community cleanups, and learn how to get involved. For the first time, residents and community groups can request municipal help for their own cleanup events — including trash pickup afterward — and request supplies such as bags and gloves from the Department of Parks, Recreation, & Cemetery for park cleanups.
The CSC, highlighted on the new page, offers free green trash bags for voluntary litter cleanups, which the city collects during regular trash pickup. Previously piloted in a handful of neighborhoods by the Department of Sustainability & Resilience (DSR) and the Quality of Life Team, the program is now open to all community groups.
Other resources on the page include information on adopting a traffic island, joining a City Manager’s Clean Team event, recycling textiles through Helpsy, and checking trash pickup schedules.
KWC was first launched in 2002 by the Department of Public Works (DPW) alongside the Health and Code departments to coordinate services such as street sweeping, litter collection, and anti-litter ordinance enforcement. Over the years, it has included initiatives like Streetscape, Operation Clean City, Grimewatch, and the Graffiti Task Force.
Today, KWC remains a cross-departmental effort led by DPW, DSR, the Department of Parks, Recreation, & Cemetery, the Inspectional Services Department, and the Quality of Life Team. Goals range from individual cleanup events to long-term projects like installing dual-stream trash and recycling bins and implementing the city’s Zero Waste Master Plan. Quarterly updates on KWC goals will be presented to the City Council starting Aug. 19.
Also on Friday, District 3 City Councilor George Russell announced he is renewing his request for free, expanded access to the city’s Residential Drop-Off Center for bulk waste disposal. In his statement, Russell noted that while he “applaud[s]” the manager’s August decision to waive all bulk waste fees at the center, appointments quickly filled up by mid-month.
“During my tenure on the city council, I have worked with the current and previous city manager and their administration to promote free use of the Residential Drop-Off Center,” Russell said in the release. “Eliminating the bulk waste fee will encourage residents to consistently utilize the center and will deter illegal waste dumping that is evident throughout the city.”
Russell’s orders, set to be heard at the Aug. 19 council meeting, request that any appointments made in August under the free drop-off incentive be honored in September, and that the center be opened free of charge to residents on all weekdays and one weekend day per week, without requiring appointments.
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