If you’re wondering what to do with all the candy from the last holiday, put it to use protecting the environment. Neighborhood kids will line up at your door hauling trash.

Decide on a good day and time for weather, school and other activities with neighborhood parents. Announce it with flyers on doors or by word of mouth. You might even put up a poster at neighborhood entrances.

Before the event, put the candy or other prize items in gift bags. Even sandwich bags will work. You can assemble different sizes for different awards if you choose.

Have plenty of gloves (small latex are good for kids and pretty cheap) and garbage bags. Have the kids meet you in your front yard at the appointed time and announce that prizes will be given. Consider awards for the most bags of garbage and the hardest worker.

Have markers on hand to mark names on the garbage bags so you can total them for awards. Provide a place to wash up and hand sanitizer. Make sure that other parents or neighborhood teenagers are available to supervise children around streets or other potentially dangerous areas. If you wish, set a time limit.

As the kids bring the full bags of garbage, mark their names on the bags. When all the kids are finished, total the bags and give out awards.

Some waste management companies will provide free bins and removal for neighborhood programs such as this. Call ahead and see what they can offer. This strategy can be used to clean up your neighborhood, camping and picnicking areas or local parks. Remember: keeping the kids safe during this activity is the most important thing.