NYC's Dirtiest Secret: Meet the Unlikely Heroes Who Are Cleaning Up the City, One Piece at a Time
As you walk down the bustling streets of New York City, it's hard to ignore the mountain of trash that seems to be growing by the day. But amidst all the chaos, there's a new generation of heroes rising up – not with fire trucks or police cars, but with trash bags and determination.
In recent years, volunteer groups have sprouted up across the five boroughs, dedicated to picking up litter on sidewalks and leaving the city's streets looking cleaner than ever. These groups are more than just a handful of enthusiastic individuals; they're communities united by a shared mission to beautify their neighborhoods.
Meet Rachael Cain, 39, founder of the Pick-up Pigeons, who've been cleaning up NYC's streets since 2023. With her team of litter-pickers, she takes on some of the dirtiest blocks in the city, from unsmoked blunts to rotting piles of trash. "If you cut me open," Cain quips, "I'd be just styrofoam and bird feathers." The group's motto? "We're not perfect, but we're getting there – one piece at a time."
But what really sets these groups apart is their social aspect. After a long day of trash-picking, they gather for dinner and drinks, swapping stories of their adventures on the streets. It's not uncommon to see members posing for photos with massive piles of garbage or bottles filled with urine. "You get a nice walk in and then you get to socialize," says Danish Jawaid, a member of the Greenpoint Trash Club.
However, as these groups continue to thrive, new regulations are emerging that threaten their very existence. Mayor Eric Adams' 2023 rule change requiring commercial waste to be put out to the curb in secured containers has left many volunteer groups scrambling to adapt. For The Litter Legion's leader, Catie Savage, this means finding creative workarounds – like leaving trash bags next to public litter baskets.
The Pick-up Pigeons, however, have found a solution that works for them: piling their gathered garbage in a single area and calling 311 to report it. It may not be perfect, but Cain says they're making progress. "We estimate we'll have all of NYC cleaned up in about three weeks," jokes member Zach Levy.
As the city's sanitation department continues to struggle with its trash problem, these volunteer groups are stepping up to fill the gap. Whether they're tackling Greenpoint's sidewalks or Cypress Hills' streets, one thing is clear: New York City won't look – or smell – the same in a long time.
As you walk down the bustling streets of New York City, it's hard to ignore the mountain of trash that seems to be growing by the day. But amidst all the chaos, there's a new generation of heroes rising up – not with fire trucks or police cars, but with trash bags and determination.
In recent years, volunteer groups have sprouted up across the five boroughs, dedicated to picking up litter on sidewalks and leaving the city's streets looking cleaner than ever. These groups are more than just a handful of enthusiastic individuals; they're communities united by a shared mission to beautify their neighborhoods.
Meet Rachael Cain, 39, founder of the Pick-up Pigeons, who've been cleaning up NYC's streets since 2023. With her team of litter-pickers, she takes on some of the dirtiest blocks in the city, from unsmoked blunts to rotting piles of trash. "If you cut me open," Cain quips, "I'd be just styrofoam and bird feathers." The group's motto? "We're not perfect, but we're getting there – one piece at a time."
But what really sets these groups apart is their social aspect. After a long day of trash-picking, they gather for dinner and drinks, swapping stories of their adventures on the streets. It's not uncommon to see members posing for photos with massive piles of garbage or bottles filled with urine. "You get a nice walk in and then you get to socialize," says Danish Jawaid, a member of the Greenpoint Trash Club.
However, as these groups continue to thrive, new regulations are emerging that threaten their very existence. Mayor Eric Adams' 2023 rule change requiring commercial waste to be put out to the curb in secured containers has left many volunteer groups scrambling to adapt. For The Litter Legion's leader, Catie Savage, this means finding creative workarounds – like leaving trash bags next to public litter baskets.
The Pick-up Pigeons, however, have found a solution that works for them: piling their gathered garbage in a single area and calling 311 to report it. It may not be perfect, but Cain says they're making progress. "We estimate we'll have all of NYC cleaned up in about three weeks," jokes member Zach Levy.
As the city's sanitation department continues to struggle with its trash problem, these volunteer groups are stepping up to fill the gap. Whether they're tackling Greenpoint's sidewalks or Cypress Hills' streets, one thing is clear: New York City won't look – or smell – the same in a long time.
NYC's volunteers are really making a difference with their daily efforts to clean up the city. I mean, who wouldn't want to see less trash on the sidewalks and streets? It's cool that they're all coming together as communities to make their neighborhoods look better. Some people might say it's just a small thing, but it's actually pretty inspiring to see people taking initiative like this. And kudos to Rachael Cain and her team, the Pick-up Pigeons – they're definitely doing something about it! 
i mean, we're living in nyc, where trash seems like an everyday thing... but these people are really getting things done! 
. it just goes to show that with determination and a little creativity, we can make our cities better places to live 
. They're like the ultimate unsung heroes! I mean, can you imagine having to deal with all that filth on a daily basis? It's crazy to think they just pick up trash and keep moving 
. They're gathering for dinner, taking selfies with their trash pickups... it's adorable! And I love how they're finding creative solutions to the new regulations 
. These volunteer groups are proof that even small actions can make a big difference 
. We should be supporting these groups, not trying to regulate them out of existence 
. Let's give it up for these NYC trash-picking heroes 
!
They're not just picking up litter, they're building communities and making their neighborhoods look better one piece at a time 
Like leaving their garbage in a single area and calling 311 to report it 
i feel like people are underestimating these volunteer groups, they're not just doing it for likes on social media, they actually care about their communities and making a real difference 
what about letting the community decide how much trash is too much trash? these groups r just a bunch of hipsters hiding behind their reusable bags 
. I've been there myself when faced with unexpected challenges - it's how you respond that matters. As someone who's retired, I see this movement as a great example of people power and grassroots activism 
.
. I mean, what's next? People planting trees just for Instagram followers? 
️. What about addressing the root causes of pollution in the first place? It's all very convenient to just throw trash bags on the ground and call it a day 
. And what's with these volunteer groups thinking they can single-handedly solve the city's sanitation problems? 
, if you ask me 
.
. and can we talk about their squad goals? swappin stories over dinner and drinks after a long day of trash-pickin is literally the ultimate team building activity 
. but what's really got me hyped is how they're adaptin to these new reg changes and finding workarounds, like leavin garbage bags next to public litter baskets 
! can't wait to see what NYC looks like when these groups have finished their mission 
, swapping stories and sharing laughs over a pile of garbage 
, like what happens when the city starts to step in? do these groups just disappear or find new ways to adapt 
. The fact that they've got a social aspect goin' on, with dinner and drinks after a long day of pickin' up litter... that's just dope 
. So here's to the Pick-up Pigeons, the Greenpoint Trash Club, and all the other volunteer groups out there keepin' NYC lookin' fresh 
. I mean, what if it's all just a distraction from something more sinister going on beneath the surface? Like, maybe they're not really cleaning up the streets, but just creating a illusion for the city's sake. It's all about perception, fam 
.