Sanitation Foundation and Target Host Astoria Litter Cleanup Event

On Friday, June 5, more than 25 Target employee volunteers joined forces with the Sanitation Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of NYC Sanitation (DSNY), to clean up along 31st Street in Astoria as part of the annual Big Spring Clean campaign.

Volunteers gathered outside the Astoria Target location before walking along 31st Street to pick up litter and clean public spaces from Ditmars Boulevard to Astoria Boulevard South. Target employees also assisted with street tree care, clearing litter, aerating compacted soil around tree roots, and spreading a new layer of Big Apple Compost (made by DSNY) to help with tree health.

"At the Sanitation Foundation, we believe every New Yorker has a role to play in caring for this city, and we’re proud to continue our partnership with Target to bring that spirit of shared responsibility to Astoria,” said Halima Johnson, Director of Volunteer Programs, Sanitation Foundation. “Together with Target team members and local residents, we’re celebrating Queens pride by rolling up our sleeves to care for the streets surrounding Target’s Astoria store. This activation reflects what community-powered impact can look like: neighbors, businesses, and individuals who are proud of their community all doing their part to help create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable New York City."

This is the third year in a row that Target is partnering with the Sanitation Foundation to host volunteer cleanup events. Together, Target and the Sanitation Foundation have helped make communities cleaner and brighter across Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

"Fostering a cleaner, more sustainable New York City is part of our mission to strengthen and give back to the communities and neighborhoods we serve," said Faye Cardoso, Store Director, Target. "We look forward to partnering with the Sanitation Foundation for the third year in a row to help clean up our streets and public spaces."

According to a 2025 report by the Sanitation Foundation, which surveyed more than 1,000 NYC residents, although 8 in 10 residents feel that littering is a problem, 38% of New Yorkers surveyed admit to not “always disposing of their trash properly”. The NYC Big Spring Clean unites thousands of New Yorkers (individuals, community groups, schools, and corporate partners) through hundreds of cleanup events to help revitalize and take care of neighborhoods in every borough.