THUNDER BAY – Neighbourhoods around the city should start looking a little nicer between now and the end of the month.
The 21st annual Spring Up to Clean Up event kicked off on Thursday, with volunteers spreading throughout the Intercity area with trash bags and garbage pickers in hand, scouring the roadways and ditches for tossed aside litter.
Shannon Costigan, a co-ordinator for Eco Superior’s environmental programs, said it’s the same thing every spring – as the snow melts the trash discarded during the fall and winter is left behind.
“The aesthetics leave a little bit to be desired. So we ask people in their neighbourhoods, people in the city, to get out and make their neighbourhoods beautiful in the spring.”
With two dozen volunteers taking part in the inaugural clean-up day on Thursday, Costigan said it’s great to see so many people showing off their civic pride.
She added Eco Superior and the city do their best to ensure litter-prevention infrastructure, such as public garbage cans, are readily available throughout Thunder Bay.
“We hope that people use it to the best of their abilities, but if there are areas of the city that the public thinks needs attention, to let us know. We can help,” Costigan said.
“Litter has some negative impacts on the environment, so the more we clean up, the healthier our community is. It’s also really good for business.”
Taking part in Spring Up to Clean up is simple, she said. Sign-up is available on the Eco-Superior website (http://www.ecosuperior.org/), and the organization will provide clean-up kits to those interested in participating. There are also prizes available to those who help clean up.
Jason Sherband, the city’s manager of solid waste and recycling services, called the campaign Thunder Bay’s flagship litter program.
“We get roughly 10,000 volunteers every year – that’s almost a tenth of the population of the city – tht comes out to clean up the city,” he said. “And it’s only growing. We’re getting a lot more corporate sponsors coming on board and the whole civic pride thing is showing through.”
Sherband said he’s like to see the effort continue throughout the year and not just in the springtime.
