Enemies of Debris

Our goal is to remove as much trash as possible from our community. We have identified the highest impact trash first. This trash is located in playgrounds, near schools, and in our waterways. We focus on removing this trash first.

Our metric is to remove at least one pound of trash for every dollar we raise. In 2019 we removed 3,750 lbs. of trash with expenses of $1,425. In 2020 we hope to continue this efficiency.

The Enemies of Debris create fun and exciting events where volunteers are encouraged to remove as much trash as possible. We make trash removal a fun adventure. We encourage our volunteers to explore unusual places, to find trash other people will never find, and to remove it. We reward them with prestige, homemade trophies, donuts, and tacos.

The Enemies of Debris use power tools to amplify our efforts. One of our projects, The Detroit Mower Gang uses leaf blowers and lawn tractors to clean up parks. Our Trash Fishing efforts use small fishing boats to catch trash, and our event The Great American Pick Up Pick Up has volunteers use their pick up trucks to find and remove trash from Detroit's streets. Horsepower is an effective way to make things happen.

Financially, we are cheapskates. We spend money only where necessary. None of the Directors at Enemies of Debris receive any compensation for their efforts. We are a volunteer run organization. We also fix and repair our own equipment, drink cheap beer, eat cheap food, and don't expect much. Most of our members are middle-aged men who are successful in other ways. They do not want salaries, they do not want their expenses paid, and they already own the equipment required to clean up the city. It is hard to find more down-to-earth people than The Enemies of Debris.

Since 2010 The Detroit Mower Gang's volunteers have mowed and cared for abandoned playgrounds in Detroit. We have over 70 volunteers that own and are willing to use their lawn equipment for the common good. This is an incredible capability.

Trash Fishing has had over 12 different people bring their own boats to help us collect trash. Why? Because it is a fun adventure to explore the nooks and crannies of The Detroit River and because our organization handles the difficult parts, like hauling all of the debris away at the end of the day.

The Great American Pick Up Pick Up removed 8,000 lbs. of debris from our city in one day because our volunteers wanted to do it and because it was fun.

The main capability of The Enemies of Debris is that we know how to make clean up events fun and interesting.

Our Organization's progress is best summarized by breaking it down into our individual projects.

Since 2010 The Detroit Mower Gang has:
- Mowed, cleaned and kept in service over 30 parks
- Conducted over 150 different park clean up events
- Removed over 10,000 lbs. of trash from these playgrounds, school yards, and parks

Since 2018 Trash Fishing has:
- Conducted over a dozen Trash Fishing Contests
- Removed over 9,000 lbs. of trash from our waterways.

In 2020 We held the first ever Great American Pick Up Pick Up event:
- 20 participating trucks removed 8,000 lbs. of trash from public spaces in Detroit.

What's Next for The Enemies of Debris?
- We will continue to have fun cleaning up our environment.
- We will continue to spread the word about how much fun we are having and we will invite others to join us.
- We will be fundraising wisely.
- We will be spending frugally.
- The amount of trash we remove and the low cost it requires us to do so will amaze you.
- You will follow us on Facebook.com/EnemiesOfDebris