Saturday, April 18, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Come to the National Zoo for a pre-Earth Day cleanup.
Zoo staff and visitors will work together to keep our ecosystem healthy, by picking up aluminum cans, snack food wrappers, and other litter that will be sorted into recyclables and trash.
Members of the Zoo’s Green Team will be on hand to talk to visitors about sustainability initiatives, and representatives from other organizations will share information about what ordinary people—working individually, collectively, and professionally—can do to build solutions to global issues such as pollution and climate change. Participating organizations include the D.C. Department of the Environment, Friends of Rock Creek's Environment, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, and Casey Trees. Children will have the opportunity to participate in fun and educational activities.
Registration, talks, and activities will be in the Picnic Pavilion, next to the Mane Restaurant.
Want to Help With the Cleanup?
Volunteers, please sign in by 8 a.m. No advance RSVP is necessary. We encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle (we'll provide the water), sunblock, and comfortable shoes.
Children under age 13 who want to participate in the cleanup must be at least kindergarten age and accompanied by an adult.
Recycle at the Zoo
We invite you to bring any of the following to the Picnic Pavilion on April 18 for recycling:
- Cell phones and accessories
- Batteries, including those for cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote control toys
- Printer cartridges
- Corks (made from cork, not plastic)
- Compact fluorescent bulbs
- Brita filters (dried)
You can bring everything on this list besides corks and bulbs to the Zoo's Visitor Center throughout the year.
Look and Learn
Stop by the Amazonia Science Gallery to see climate-change animations on our Science on a Sphere.
What Else You Can Do to Make a Difference
Find out about simple daily actions you can take to enjoy a more environmentally friendly lifestyle: 
get our Green Tips. We have lots of information about how to reduce your lunch waste, how you can make sustainable seafood choices, how to conserve water, and much more.
