New York City’s notoriously filthy streets are bringing people together.

A growing number of volunteer groups that collect litter on sidewalks have popped up across the five boroughs in recent years. They’re made up of people looking to get a buzz off cleaning up the city — and meeting new friends in the process.

Rachael Cain, who formed a club called the Pick-up Pigeons in 2023, leads groups of litter-pickers to neighborhoods across the city. She said members pride themselves on having taken trash trips to all five boroughs, and get excited by especially dirty blocks.

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[–] 7 points 11 months ago (1 child)

This is cool, but feels a bit like an orphan crushing machine.

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  • [–] 5 points 11 months ago

    Thats awesome. Get some excersise, meet some neighbors, do some good. I love things like this.

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  • [–] 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 child)
    [–] 2 points 11 months ago (3 children)

    Fuck ya! I’ve joined a group in San Francisco. Great way to build community and encourage people that pass by to stop using the sidewalk as a trash can

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    [–] 22 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    I heard this headline in Stephan's voice.

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  • [–] 14 points 11 months ago

    “Next time on Sanitation in the City…”

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  • [–] 27 points 11 months ago (3 children)

    Why does the most expensive city in the richest country need volenteers to do trash pickup?

    This is orphancrushingmachine material.

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  • [–] 11 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

    because people throw their trash on the street. so it's everywhere.

    americans are not as clean as most europeans, asians, or canadians. we are big on throwing shit out the car window.

    i bike/hike a lot. most of the trails where i live are loaded with trash. dog shit bags, snack wrappers, bottles and cans, and often camping equipment abandoned. people refuse to bring it back to their car.

    and if you confront someone who throws shit on the street, they threaten to beat the shit out of you. they don't say 'oh my mistake, let me pick that up'.

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  • [–] 14 points 11 months ago*

    Nice way to meet some trashy chicks. In all seriousness, the way these youngsters are dressed will one day date the hell out of those photos. They aren't even dressed wild or anything, just very contemporary.

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  • [–] 5 points 11 months ago

    This seems more like boring dystopia.

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