Refuse Refuse San Francisco
Home
Our Mission
Volunteer
Cleanups
Corporate
Contact
Refuse Refuse San Francisco
Home
Our Mission
Volunteer
Cleanups
Corporate
Contact
More
  • Home
  • Our Mission
  • Volunteer
  • Cleanups
  • Corporate
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Our Mission
  • Volunteer
  • Cleanups
  • Corporate
  • Contact

Keep SF Clean

On A Mission

Refuse Refuse is a campaign that brings together a community of individuals that care enough to demonstrate their love for San Francisco by picking up and removing the trash that litters our city. We organize cleanups, help others establish their own, and educate residents on what they can do to keep our neighborhoods, parks, beaches, and public spaces clean.

Press Contact

Vince Yuen, Founder - email: info@refuserefusesf.org - phone: 415-940-3375

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

Photos

Show More

Contact Us

Send us an email

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Press Requests

Thank you very much for your interest in Refuse Refuse! Please use the form or email info@refuserefusesf.org and include "Press Request" in the subject.

If on deadline, please call 415.940.3375.


Copyright © 2025 Refuse Refuse San Francisco - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

  • Partners
  • Blog
  • Educators
  • Press Kit
  • Privacy
  • Terms