Cleaning the city from the ground up

When David Clarke moved to New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood, he had no intention of becoming a local celebrity. But he can’t even go to the supermarket today without being stopped by strangers thanking him.

David isn’t a pop star, podcaster, or social media influencer. He’s a trash guy, and proud of it.

Let’s rewind: This spring, David started posting videos of himself picking up litter around Washington Heights, hoping to encourage others to do their small part in keeping their communities clean. 

• For him, it was one tangible way to feel useful in a sea of problems.
• David says he’s aiming to reverse what he calls “learned helplessness,” or community members’ overreliance on city government to maintain public spaces.

David also went on to launch Trash Talk NYC, expanding his mission beyond picking up trash to beautifying public spaces—particularly the tree beds lining city streets.

He spends his days planting native species, caring for the soil, building fences around each tiny garden, and even employing local kids to help paint them.

His idea is growing. David has racked up 280,000+ followers across social media documenting his journey to clean up the city. He’s since quit his job to pursue the mission full-time and raised ~$55,000 to keep the work going.

• More than anything, he's been touched by the genuine gratitude of the community.
• After David restored the small garden outside one woman’s building, she later showed up at his door with soup, a handwritten letter, a subway map, and other knickknacks to thank him.

The ultimate goal: David estimates it’ll take 3-5 years to beautify and plant every tree bed in New York. But the bigger idea is that he shouldn’t have to do it alone. With volunteers already joining Trash Talk NYC’s mission, it looks like he won’t.

“It all started with one person wanting to make a change. We all have that agency,” volunteer Lily Xiao told The City Reporter. “I think sometimes we forget, and [David is] a good reminder of that.”