Trash Talk Nyc Project: 100-day cleanup sparks gardens; neighbours build a movement

What began with a $40 cleaning kit and one littered New York City block eventually turned into a neighbourhood effort to clean, garden and reclaim public space. David Clarke, a 24-year-old New Yorker behind the grassroots project Trash Talk NYC, spent 100 days cleaning the area around West 171st Street between Broadway and Fort Washington Avenue in Washington Heights, according to Hoodline and Clarke’s own account of the project. Clarke initially set out with little more than trash bags, a grabber and his phone. He documented the cleanups on social media, turning a personal attempt to tackle litter near his home into part of a larger campaign focused on neglected streets across New York City.It started with one blockClarke has described feeling frustrated by the condition of his neighbourhood and unsure what one person could realistically do about it. Instead of waiting for a larger cleanup effort, he began picking up litter himself.The idea soon grew beyond simply removing rubbish. Clarke wanted the transformation to be visible enough that people would feel invested in keeping the area clean. His Trash Talk NYC project eventually expanded to other parts of New York, with residents...