Matt Apple is the Co-founder and CEO of Walking For Rochester, a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating litter and inspiring community pride throughout the City of Rochester. Since founding the organization in 2020, Matt has led its transformation from a small neighborhood effort into one of Rochester’s most visible community movements, uniting thousands of volunteers, businesses, and city partners around a shared vision of a cleaner, more connected city.

Under Matt’s leadership, Walking For Rochester has organized hundreds of litter cleanups, removed thousands of pounds of debris from streets and waterways, and built long-standing partnerships with the City of Rochester, RIT, Genesee River Watch, and dozens of local businesses. The organization is leading what Matt calls a litter revolution, answering the need for true litter reform by reshaping how residents, business owners, and community leaders think about environmental responsibility.

Walking For Rochester continues to innovate through technology and collaboration. The organization operates a mobile app that tracks volunteer impact and encourages ongoing participation, and is currently developing a GIS dashboard that will visualize litter data and support citywide strategy. In 2026, Matt plans to unveil what he envisions as the nation’s first citywide litter elimination system, a coordinated framework that connects WFR’s five programs, community resources, measurable action and impacts reports, and real-time insight into a single model for a clearer pulse on Rochester’s litter situation and how to eliminate litter citywide.

Matt is deeply committed to building community through collaboration and local engagement. His approach emphasizes empowerment and accessibility, ensuring that every Rochester resident has the tools and opportunity to make a difference. His vision is clear: to make Rochester the first litter free city in the United States, one cleanup, one volunteer, and one neighborhood at a time.