Get involved by volunteering at a BCA neighborhood clean-up event. Report litter found in and around the Burleith neighborhood adjacent to the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) to MGUHcommunitycleanup@medstar.net. Learn more about both of these initiatives below.

BCA Semi-annual Neighborhood Clean-up Events

Twice a year on a Saturday morning from 9–11 am in late spring and late fall, the BCA organizes volunteer-driven neighborhood clean-ups to collect litter and bulk items. Volunteers typically include enthusiastic neighbors of all ages, members of Georgetown University’s (GU) Office of Neighborhood Life (ONL) and GU students, and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH). GU provides trash trucks to collect the waste that volunteers pick up. ONL organizes student volunteers and supplies gloves and bags.

See highlights from the fall 2023 BCA clean-up here.

Litter Prevention and Control Efforts with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH)

In July 2022, the BCA and MGUH entered into a 7-year agreement to address litter in the Burleith neighborhood. The highlights of this agreement include:

Daily litter collection by MGUH: A two-person neighborhood patrol team will monitor and pick up litter from the designated area from 6:30 am–5 pm Monday–Friday and 9 am–5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Please see monthly MGUH reports here.

Complaint-driven collection: If litter is spotted in the service area* an email request to pick up trash can be sent to MGUHcommunitycleanup@medstar.net with the location of the litter and a description of the litter. If the email is received by MGUH before 4 pm, the response time will be 30–60 minutes. Any request after 4 pm will be dealt with first thing the next morning.

Active communication about litter with employees, contractors, and visitors to MGUH: Improved, targeted, and relevant communication and as well as more trash cans at hospital exits will be implemented.

Parking and trash: MGUH will work with the BCA to better understand parking patterns (including possible parking by MGUH employees, visitors, and contractors) and both parties will work together to encourage the city authorities to take appropriate actions.

Performance-based agreement: If outcomes are not satisfactory, MGUH, after consultation with the BCA, will undertake other or additional efforts as needed to assure the successful mitigation of the impacts of litter in the area of Burleith covered by the agreement. There is also a mechanism to mediate any disputes, which may involve the Georgetown Community Partnership (GCP).

Read the full agreement here.

*Service area is bounded by Reservoir Road NW to the south; 39th Street NW to the west; Whitehaven Park to the north, and 37th Street NW to the east. The streets covered are Reservoir Road, 39th Street NW, 38th Street NW, 37th Street NW, and R, S, and T Streets NW.