PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia isn’t just battling Chicago and L.A. on the football field and the baseball diamond: the cities are going head-to-head to see who can pick up the most litter.
The 2026 Clean-Off is the second annual competition to see who can collect the most trash off the street throughout the entire month of October. Last year it was just Philly vs. Chicago, and while Philadelphia managed to fill 923 bags of trash, it lost by a hair to the Windy City.
“We cleaned, collectively, over seven tons of trash,” said Amanda Block, co-founder of community cleanup organization Block by Block. “I’m so sad to even say this, but we lost by four bags. Four!”
Block created the Philly nonprofit with her husband, David Evans.
She says the city faces even stiffer competition this year.
“Now Los Angeles is joining our competition,” Block said. “And they — it’s a pretty trashy city.”
The nonprofit will host organized cleanups throughout the month for the competition, but anyone can contribute just by posting photos or videos on the Block by Block website to count their bags towards Philly’s total.
While there’s no prize for the winning city, Block says the competition helps promote pride in keeping public spaces clean.
“It’s kind of like a domino effect. It’s like, we clean this area up, but once people are involved with doing it with us, then they take more pride in their neighborhoods.”
Philadelphia nonprofit Block by Block is organizing the second annual Clean-Off, and anyone can contribute
Philadelphia nonprofit Block by Block is organizing the second annual Clean-Off, and anyone can contribute
