Every day, rain or shine, Wendy Shapiro Lanza and Alicia Dwyer walk the streets of Lynnfield. But these aren’t your average evening strolls.
Instead of water bottles and earbuds, the two longtime friends carry trash bags and picker sticks, removing litter from curbs, sidewalks, and even conservation land.
“It just started during COVID,” said Shapiro Lanza. “We were going stir-crazy. One day, we just decided to walk together to stay sane — and we noticed all the trash.”
That was in March 2020. Since then, the pair have gone on hundreds, likely thousands, of “trash walks.” What began as a way to stay active during lockdown has evolved into a nearly daily routine with a purpose far greater than fitness.
“We couldn’t unsee it anymore,” Shapiro Lanza said. “Once you start noticing how much junk lines our streets, you can’t just walk by.”
Shapiro Lanza and Dwyer have known each other for decades, since their now-grown children were in elementary school. They live in the same neighborhood, where their friendship was rekindled through a simple wave during the early days of the pandemic. A few walks turned into a habit. The habit turned into a mission.
They started by picking up obvious offenders: beer cans, water bottles, and coffee cups. “One neighbor said her dog kept cutting its paws on broken glass,” Shapiro Lanza recalled. “That’s what pushed us to start bringing bags.”
Soon, they were collecting a full grocery bag or more each day.
On Mondays, following the weekend’s traffic, the haul is often larger. “We’ve even had to stash full trash bags at neighbors’ houses mid-walk and come back for them by car,” Dwyer said with a laugh.
While the cleanup is admirable, what keeps them going is the connection. “It’s therapy,” Dwyer joked. “We talk about everything — kids, work, politics, the news. We vent about our husbands sometimes, too.”
They’ve walked in heatwaves and snowstorms, only occasionally skipping a day due to illness or weather. They average 3 miles a day, nearly every day of the year.
And their finds? “A sink on conservation land. A whole Amazon package. Tires. Siding. Even… let’s just say Lynnfield has a low teen pregnancy rate,” Dwyer quipped, alluding to some eyebrow-raising discoveries.
Locals often refer to them as “the trash ladies” — a title they embrace with humor. “Someone shouted that from a car the other day. We waved,” Shapiro Lanza said.
Others are more formal with their appreciation, stopping to thank them mid-walk or posting about them on community Facebook pages. “It’s nice to hear, but we don’t do it for that,” Dwyer said. “We just can’t imagine walking past it and doing nothing.”
Their dedication has even inspired a few neighbors to take up the cause. “Sometimes people ask if we’ll do their street,” Shapiro Lanza joked. “We say, start a neighborhood fund — we’ll clean for cash!”
The impact of their efforts goes beyond cleaner streets. It’s about awareness.
“People need to see this and think, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t throw that coffee cup out my window,’” said Dwyer. “Or better yet, maybe they’ll start picking things up themselves.”
The duo makes a visible difference in the appearance of the small town. “We’ve cleaned areas where we can drive by afterward and feel proud,” Shapiro Lanza said.
Both women have deep roots in Lynnfield, having lived here for nearly 30 years. They’ve raised kids, made lifelong friends, and watched the town evolve. And while their professional lives are different — Dwyer runs a travel agency from home and Shapiro Lanza works in administrative support — their shared love for the community is what binds them.
They hope their story will inspire others, especially the next generation.
“If just one more person starts picking up trash after reading this, that’s a win,” Shapiro Lanza said. “It’s simple. If you see something, pick it up.”
All it takes is a trash bag, a good pair of shoes, and a willingness to leave things better than you found them.
