What is Clean Sweep?

 

Phillips Clean Sweep is a beloved neighbor-run event where people from all four Phillips neighborhoods (Phillips West, Midtown Phillips, East Phillips, and Ventura Village) come together to clean, connect, and celebrate our vibrant community. In 2025 we marked the 23rd year of Clean Sweep by picking up up 28,000 pounds of trash!

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Each year, hundreds of residents gather for breakfast at Welna Hardware before heading out to pick up litter on our neighborhood blocks. Thanks to our longstanding partnership with the City of Minneapolis Waste Management, the collected trash is picked up the same day, and residents receive an additional trash collection service. After the cleanup, neighbors reconvene for a free lunch and a Community Resource Fair, where local organizations share information, services, and ways to get involved.

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Every year, the neighborhood organizations pay for trucks to pick up extra household trash across the Phillips Community. You can put our household trash items for FREE. This includes old furniture, mattresses and box springs, scrap metal, shingles, building materials, carpet, tires, etc.

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How do I participate?

 

There are three ways to be part of Clean Sweep on October 10th!​

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1. Pick up trash, meet neighbors, and celebrate the neighborhood! If you aren't able to pick up trash, you're still welcome to join us at Welna for breakfast or at Banyan for lunch.

 

9 am: Breakfast and Check In at Welna Ace Hardware (2438 Bloomington Ave)

Grab your supplies, get this year’s t-shirt, and enjoy some breakfast.

9:30 am - Noon: Trash Pick Up

Meet your neighbors, pick up litter, and help clean our neighborhood!

Noon - 1:30 pm: Lunch and Resource Fair at Banyan Community (2529 13th Ave S)

Celebrate your hard work with some lunch (free!) and stroll through the resource fair. 

 

2. Put out your trash for an extra trash pick up!​

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Clean Sweep also includes an extra trash service for everyone in the neighborhood. This is a great time to put out things like old furniture, tires, appliances, carpet, etc. No hazardous waste. Please put out your trash on Friday night or by 8am on Saturday at the latest. 

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3. Volunteer to help our garbage trucks!

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Do you like to lift heavy things? Have you always been curious about how garbage trucks work? We need volunteers to travel alongside our trucks to pack trash! Send us a note to sign up for a shift info@unitedphillips.org. We particularly need help in the afternoon.

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Who makes Clean Sweep happen? How can I get involved?

 

We all do! There is a group of neighbors who help organize and plan Clean Sweep, but everyone who joins to pick up trash is an integral part of the event. If you want to help organize future Clean Sweeps please send us an email at info@unitedphillips.org. We can use help coordinating site logistics, spreading the word to neighbors, fundraising, or whatever else you want to offer! We’d love to have you.​

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Clean Sweep FAQ

 

What things can I put out for my Clean Sweep trash pick up? What isn't allowed?

You can put out household trash, carpet, furniture, tires, appliances, household construction scraps etc. Hazardous waste (paint, oil, gas, etc) is NOT picked up on Clean Sweep. This needs to be brought to a Hennepin County Hazardous Waste drop-off site. 

 

What if my trash isn't picked up on Clean Sweep?

The Clean Sweep trucks are often out all day, so its possible they haven't gotten to you yet! But some materials, like electronics, will be noted and picked up on your next recycling service.

 

I live in an apartment with a dumpster. Where do I put my trash?

You can put your oversized waste in your apartment's dumpster! If you have things that don't fit, leave them next to the dumpster with a sign that says "Clean Sweep." If your dumpster is inside a private space like a parking garage you should bring your trash to your alley and label it for Clean Sweep. 

 

Who designs the Clean Sweep shirts every year?

Each year, students at Banyan Community draw art for Clean Sweep. The Clean Sweep organizers pick a drawing, which is then interpreted by our friends at Yarborough Print Shop into the Clean Sweep shirt design.