Lake Merritt Institute

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Volunteer Lake Clean Up

 

Trash Collection

We remove litter and trash from the shorelines and waters of Lake Merritt, using nets and pickers. We clean up five days a week, year-round, rain or shine.  We remove an average of 6,000 gallons of trash per month.

Clean Up Days

We host public volunteer cleanup every Tuesday & Saturday 10am @568 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland CA  94610.

Register here:



Volunteers usually work for between two and three hours during a shift. Supplies and safety training are provided.  Be prepared to work outdoors.

U-Clean-It Stations

We have established four “U-Clean-It” boxes around Lake Merritt.  Dedicated volunteers who have been trained may schedule with us to access one of the four “U-Clean-It” boxes. Each box contains nets, two trash barrels, trash bags, gloves, instructions and sign-in sheet. They are located near:

  • The Grand Avenue & Harrison St. intersection.
  • Between the Lake Chalet restaurant and the Cameron Stanford House along Lakeside Drive.
  • At the E. 18th St. and Lakeshore Drive dock.
  • By the columns structure, at the end of the Lake between Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Drive

U-Clean-It Box Instructions

  1. Attend a Safety Training
    Join us at 10am on Tuesdays or Saturdays for initial safety training at Sail Boat House.
  2. Schedule Your Cleanup –
    After your initial training, email us at info@lakemerrittinstitute.org to schedule a cleanup with us:

      • Tuesdays through Saturdays between 10am-3pm (staff trash disposal)
      • We’re CLOSED Sundays, Mondays, & Holidays
  3. Required Sign-In
    Use the sign-in sheet inside the box.
  4. Return Equipment & Report Trash Collected
    • Return all equipment and supplies to the same box after your cleanup.
    • Record the total number of trash bags collected —data reports are required for us to continue this program.

Thank You to Our Amazing Volunteer Groups!

We are deeply grateful to the many classrooms, local organizations, businesses, and corporations who join us in caring for Lake Merritt. Your dedication and enthusiasm for community service bring real change to our local environment, and we couldn’t do it without you! Thank you for standing with us to protect and preserve our city’s unique urban lake.

Check out the latest groups on our blog who came down for community service!