Apply for grant, volunteer to help reduce trash in the Bay

Berkeleyans can volunteer or take personal steps to prevent debris and pollutants flowing into the San Francisco Bay, while local nonprofits can also apply for grants to expand such efforts through community-based projects. 

Cigarette butts, plastic fragments, pet waste, and other debris can be quickly carried by rain into creeks and the Bay – where they can harm wildlife, sicken people, clog drains, and create flooding. 

City efforts to sweep streets daily and create storm water filtering plays a role. But community action also makes a big difference, and City and county resources are here to help. Small, everyday actions can help protect our waterways: 

• Volunteer to keep your local storm drain clear of debris
• Properly dispose of toxic liquids and pet waste
• Never litter – especially cigarette butts and small plastics
• Use City services to dispose of bulky or excess waste

Berkeley-based nonprofits and other local groups can develop community-based projects to amplify this work. Learn more about the grants and apply by 5:00 PM on Monday, May 4. 

Be part of the solution. Help protect clean water, public health, and wildlife by taking action in our community.

Use grant up to $6,000 to help creeks and the Bay

Student groups, service clubs, community organizations, and others can lead projects that protect local creeks and the Bay and apply for grants of $500 to $6,000.

Previous grant awardees have used the funds to start coastal and creek cleanups; public education and art projects; and creekside restoration projects.

The Community Stewardship Grant is distributed by the Alameda County’s Clean Water Program. For-profits and public agencies are not eligible to apply.

Awardees will be announced in late July. Apply by 5:00 PM on Monday, May 4.

volunteer to keep city infrastructure, waterfront clean

You can help keep trash out of the Bay by monitoring and clearing debris from the storm drain on your block, especially before and during rain, when trash is most likely carried into creeks and the Bay. 

The City also offers opportunities for you to take an active role by “adopting” local green infrastructure and storm drains to help prevent flooding and remove pollution from our waterways: 

• Volunteer to Adopt a Drain
• Volunteer to Adopt a “Green Infrastructure,” such as bioswales or rain gardens 

You can help protect our Waterfront by joining a monthly cleanup event at the Shoreline Park on the waterfront every third Saturday throughout 2026.

Dispose waste properly by using city, county services

Alameda County offers free drop off of a variety of household hazardous waste: Paint varnishes and thinners, antifreeze, brake fluids, pesticides, and syringes, among others. You should never just add them to your trash.  

Use the online Re:source tool to know how and where to deposit your waste nearby. You can also sign up to receive email notifications of special one-day household hazardous waste drop-off events. 

Need help clearing large amounts of trash? The City can help you. We provide following services: 

• Property owners of 1-4 unit residential buildings can schedule one free bulky waste pick-up per calendar year. Call (510) 981-7270 to schedule a bulky waste pick-up.
• Residents and businesses can rent out a dumpster for one-time pick up of large amounts of waste 

Dumping trash on streets and sidewalk is illegal and can incur fines of up to $500 a day. Under the Berkeley Municipal Code, illegal dumping on the right of way next to a private property is that property owner’s responsibility to address. Properties with chronic illegal dumping – 3 or more instances per year – may be subject to higher fines.

Partner with the city, protect clean water

The City continues to work to make water in our creeks and the Bay safer. Beneath the streets and out of sight, the City has installed more than 500 trash capture devices throughout its drainage system. These systems work to stop trash and debris from flowing downstream into the Bay. The City plans to install at least 100 more trash capture devices in the next year. 

Above ground, our efforts continue every day. In 2025, City street sweepers swept more than 6,300 miles of roadways – nearly 17 miles a day – to remove debris before it can be carried into storm drains or directly into the Bay. 

Protecting our creeks and the Bay is a team effort. Adopt local infrastructure, join a shoreline cleanup, use City trash disposal services. Earn a grant to rally Berkeleyans toward clean water.

links

• Community Stewardship Grant
  • Application Packet 
• Volunteer opportunities
  • Adopt-a-Drain (City of Berkeley)
  • Adopt a Green Infrastructure (City of Berkeley)
  • Monthly shoreline cleanup (City of Berkeley)
• Household hazardous waste (Alameda County stopwaste.org)
  • Re:source (online tool to find out how and where to safely dispose items)
  • Drop-off facilities
  • One-day drop-off events
  • Sign up for email notifications
• Bulky waste pick-up (City of Berkeley)
• Temporary dumpster rental (City of Berkeley)