THUNDER BAY — Discarded personal protective equipment – notably face masks and gloves – will most likely fill a lot garbage bags when Thunder Bay's annual Spring Up to Clean Up campaign returns in May.
The 2020 spring campaign was postponed to the fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
EcoSuperior Environmental Programs organizes the event, which is marking its 25th anniversary this year.
Program Coordinator Melissa Davidson says because the pandemic isn't over yet, participants will be encouraged to work individually or in family bubbles.
In past years, an estimated 10,000 people took part each spring.
Starting on April 1, registration will be accepted on the EcoSuperior website for individuals, workplaces or schools.
"We're hoping to build the program from what we learned with the Spring into Fall cleanup, and make it bigger and better for spring," Davidson said.
She said the amount of PPE trash around the city is becoming more noticeable as the snow melts.
"We've been getting a lot of discussion on that topic from people in the community."
Davidson said it's important that everyone take all the necessary precautions including physical distancing and mask-wearing, and added that people should only pick up what they are comfortable handling.
"I would absolutely recommend wearing gloves any year, but moreso this year, and practising good hand hygiene. Taking those common-sense kinds of precautions," she said.
EcoSuperior will provide free kits to people who register, including garbage bags and gloves, as well as optional returnable items such as trash pickers.
To encourage participation, prizes will be offered for winners of a poster contest for elementary school students and a photo contest for all participants.
Prizes will also be available for litter-tracking and participation.
"If people are willing to let us know what they are finding during their cleanup, we'll ask them to fill out a bit of a data collection form," Davidson explained.
Details of all the contests will be announced shortly.
