Why A Clean City Matters
A clean environment is a basic right for everyone. Dirty streets and neighborhoods are a health and safety concern as it brings about disease, hazards, and crime. Being a coastal city, our waste directly impacts the surrounding ocean and bay. Beyond that, the habit of cleanliness displays a sense of civic pride that percolates into other aspects of the community and demonstrates our love of this amazing city.
Vince Yuen, Founder
Just another San Franciscan that cares about a clean environment. He started out cleaning his block with his two daughters (aged 5 and 7). Then he discovered others already picking up trash and spread the word to neighbors from all over the city who have joined the Refuse Refuse movement to keep the city clean. He ultimately discovered that caring for San Francisco is his greatest passion.
By The Numbers
- Established April 2021
- 4,205 cleanups organized
- 946,500 gallons of refuse collected (72,800 13-gal bags)
- 15,250 unique volunteers
- 129 new organizers activated
- 165 corporate cleanups organized
- 149 school cleanups organized
- 155 presentations of “SF Trash Talk” given
*As of April 2025
Inspiration
Vince would always complain to his neighbor that they should pick up the trash they walked through on their way to their kid's school together, but of course never did. Refuse Refuse was born out of the pandemic when he was looking for outdoor activities for his daughters and finally bought a couple trash pickers. After exploring why San Francisco was so dirty and researching models to keep cities clean, Vince realized that education and the actions of residents could address this challenge. So he threw up a website, posted it on social media, and Refuse Refuse was conceived.
Press
San Francisco Chronicle - January 12, 2022
San Francisco Chronicle - January 12, 2022
Meet the San Francisco man with the inside dirt on city’s famously filthy streets
KGO-TV ABC7 News - April 22, 2025
San Francisco Chronicle - January 12, 2022
Bay Area volunteers take the time to show some love for our planet on this Earth Day
San Francisco Chronicle - January 4, 2025
Daniel Lurie, team of volunteers clear S.F. trash during weekend of service
KPIX CBS Bay Area - August 27, 2024
KPIX CBS Bay Area - September 27, 2023
San Franciscan rallies fellow residents to volunteer for street clean-up
KTVU Fox 2 - May 2, 2024
KPIX CBS Bay Area - September 27, 2023
KPIX CBS Bay Area - September 27, 2023
Volunteers from major San Francisco companies clean up downtown
KPIX CBS Bay Area - September 27, 2023
KPIX CBS Bay Area - September 27, 2023
KPIX CBS Bay Area - September 27, 2023
San Francisco litter clean-up hobby becomes full-time volunteer campaign
KALW Crosscurrents - July 11, 2023
Vincent Yuen refuses to leave litter alone
SF Standard - May 3, 2023
Disgusted by San Francisco’s Streets? Here’s How You Can Help
SF Standard - April 30, 2023
San Francisco Chronicle - January 19, 2023
San Franciscans Skip Tinder To Find Love at This Trashy Singles Event
San Francisco Chronicle - January 19, 2023
San Francisco Chronicle - January 19, 2023
Pushing for a better S.F. doesn’t mean missing out on its endless beauty and fun
Axios San Francisco - December 10, 2022
San Francisco's most powerful people in 2022
Richmond Review - September 2, 2022
Refuse Refuse Strives for a Litter-Free San Francisco
NBC Bay Area - August 25, 2022
Effort To Clean Up SF, Started By Dad Picking Up Trash With Daughters, Spreads Across City
Mission Local - June 21, 2022
On a Mission on Mission: One man’s citywide garbage odyssey
The San Francisco Standard - June 21, 2022
SF Chronicle TotalSF Podcast - January 14, 2022
Perspective: What the ‘Garbology’ of SF’s Filthy Streets Can Teach Us About the City
SF Chronicle TotalSF Podcast - January 14, 2022
SF Chronicle TotalSF Podcast - January 14, 2022
Listen: Cleaning San Francisco's dirty streets — with Giants' Hunter Pence?
Broke-Ass Stuart - April 7, 2022
San Francisco’s Trash Fighting Citizens
Mission Local - April 1, 2022
A man on a mission, and that mission is San Francisco’s trash
KALW State of the Bay - January 24, 2022
KALW State of the Bay - January 24, 2022
Author Julie King on "How To Talk When Kids Won't Listen" / Vincent Yuen Talks Trash
KTVU FOX 2 - November 8, 2021
KALW State of the Bay - January 24, 2022
Nextdoor employee volunteers join Tenderloin cleanup as company relocates headquarters
SF Minute - May 12, 2021
SF Minute - May 12, 2021
Backseat Tesla driver arrested / Paramedics could soon decide on 'psychiatric holds'
In the Works - April 2021
In the Works - April 2021
SF Minute - May 12, 2021
Say It Loud and Proud: Refuse Refuse!
Logos
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