It’s that time of year to start cleaning up the community.
South Nation Conservation is looking to get volunteers to help tidy up public spaces and along waterways, but with the stay-at-home order, SNC’s annual cleanup events have been cancelled.
Instead, SNC is looking to get residents to use their free time to help pick up trash and join this year’s efforts of keeping the community litter-free.
Communications Specialist at SNC Taylor Campbell says it’s all being done in an effort to clean up ahead of the Provincial Day of Action on Litter on May 11.
“SNC is hoping to mobilize residents venturing outdoors for recreation and mental health to consider bringing along gloves and a garbage bag to pick up trash and join this year’s efforts to keep our communities’ litter-free,” Campbell said.
With the last bit of snow finally gone, a winter’s worth of garbage accumulation and litter is now revealed and ready to be picked up.
Litter can have a detrimental impact on humans, wildlife, and the environment, and can eventually end up contaminating local water sources, soil and pollute the air.
And, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development, Campbell says the pandemic has Canadians using more single use plastics than ever before.
“Canadian in general are using more single use plastics, which are actually ending up in our waterways,” Campbell said. “So, it’s more important now more than ever as we face this public health crisis that we continue to keep up with our efforts to protect our local environment as well.”
Social gatherings may be on pause but Campbell says doing our individual part to keep our communities clean doesn’t have to be.
When picking up litter, always use personal protective equipment including gloves or a litter grabber, and always separate garbage from recycling.
Residents can submit before and after photos of their cleanup areas to SNC through social media or by emailing them for a chance to win prizes.