It started with a plastic bag — caught high in a tree, flapping in the wind for weeks on end. For most people, it was background noise. But for Leah Mojer, it was a wake-up call.
“I would pass by it in my car and wonder if it bothered anyone else or if anyone else noticed it,” she said. “It was there for weeks and weeks. And I think in terms of litter, we have this tendency to think, ‘Oh, someone else will get it or clean it up.’”
That bag became the unlikely spark behind what’s now one of Nantucket’s most beloved and effective community improvement efforts: the Nantucket Litter Derby.
Since 2019, Mojer and a crew of committed locals have turned a serious environmental issue into something wildly fun, deeply communal, and undeniably impactful. This year, 23 teams collected 15.24 tons of litter in just one weekend, pushing the all-time total to nearly 60 tons of trash removed from the island’s roadsides, beaches, and neighborhoods.
And the finds? Let’s just say you can’t make this stuff up. Among the items found during the 2025 Litter Derby:
- 27 tires
- 3 boats
- A moped
- A toilet
- A dead deer
- A croquet set (still in the packaging)
Also: hundreds of nips, vape pens, car parts, and 2,014 pounds of hazardous materials—a number Mojer says “is worth the whole Derby.”
But what sets the Litter Derby apart isn’t just the scale. It’s the competitive spirit. It turns out that organizing volunteers into teams that compete for prizes and bragging rights can be a huge motivator.
“We try to make sure fun is at the heart of it,” Mojer said. “Otherwise, you're talking about a pretty depressing subject.” That means handmade medals made of litter, mystery buckets, students painting signage with environmental messages, and local radio MCing the weigh-in. “The voice of the Derby is this really positive persona that encourages people to get silly, get loud, and do something good together,” says Mojer.
And it works. Families, church groups, real estate agents, middle schoolers, and high school students all showed up—many for the fifth year in a row. “I love seeing businesses participate,” Mojer said. “It speaks loudly of their values, not just profiting from the island, but caring for it.”
Nantucket High School students even earn community service credit toward graduation through the Derby. “Signing those service sheets is my favorite part,” she said. “It hits home for me. It ties everything back to our mission.”
Beyond the good vibes and great exercise, the Derby has real influence. Mojer’s team collects and shares data from every cleanup, where it’s used to support real change, like Nantucket’s plastic nip bottle ban. With this year’s spike in hazardous materials and littered cans and bottles, Mojer hopes the Nantucket Select Board will take action to solve these problems. She also hopes people will learn that simple behavior changes can make a big impact on the island's environment.
“Reduce single-use plastics. Bring your own cup, your own fork, and skip the plastic produce bag. Take responsibility for what you waste each day,” she said. “We’ve seen what’s possible when this community comes together. We’ve proven that.”
And if you’ve never joined?
“Our slogan is: ‘Tidy up, do good, and win big for Nantucket.’ It’s all still true. It’s fun, it’s rewarding, and honestly—it feels kind of addictive. Once you see a littered spot transform, you want to keep going.”
With nearly 60 tons removed and a community stronger than ever, the Nantucket Litter Derby isn’t just cleaning up the Island. It’s changing how people see their role in protecting it.
Want to bring this kind of energy to your town or city? Organize a local cleanup event or launch a local KMB chapter.
