As it prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of fans for FIFA World Cup games over the summer, a new report has revealed that Seattle has removed millions of pounds of waste from the streets, including hundreds of thousands of needles. 

Released on Tuesday, the Seattle Clean City Community Impact Report 2025 stated that 5.3 million pounds of waste were removed from the city’s right-of-way, being equated to the weight of 530 orca whales. Additionally, the report revealed that 661,105 sharps, which includes needles, syringes, and lancets, were collected and disposed of. 

Regarding preparations for the World Cup, the report stated that the city’s Litter Abatement Program was expanded to include “supplemental routes around Lumen Field and high-traffic fan areas. Additionally, we conducted 16 RV remediations and Geo Cleans in the immediate stadium area.”

The city is preparing for an estimated 750,000 fans visiting the city for the event, with the report stating that officials estimate an additional 180,000 pounds of waste around the stadium areas. 

This comes as the city has struggled with homelessness and drug use in recent years. The city’s 2024 Point in Time count, the latest data available, found that there was a 26 percent increase in people experiencing homelessness in the city from 2022. The study is conducted every two years. 

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has vowed to house all homeless individuals before the World Cup matches. She said in February, “The World Cup gives us a pretty aggressive timeline for trying to bring people inside with the support that they need, as opposed to sweeping people to other neighborhoods. Folks who are experiencing homelessness downtown often also have complex challenges related to drug use and mental illness.”