Litter-free community goal of District 3 councillor
Cleanup planned for Saturday
MACADAM’S LAKE — Residents will be armed with rubber gloves and garbage bags when the latest edition of District 3’s annual battle against litter returns Saturday.
The community-wide cleanup is organized by Mae Rowe, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s councillor for the district, and she’s heard the annual events are important as they work toward the ultimate goal of a litter-free community.
“Over the years people have told me they have noticed a difference as far as the litter goes and that the awareness and education about it helps,” Rowe said.
“People are taking pride in their community but it hasn’t caught on in other areas so it is an ongoing effort that’s for sure.”
Seeing litter remains one of Rowe’s pet peeves and she hopes everyone will do their part to remove it.
“I have a really difficult time understanding why people think it is OK to litter and why they don’t take pride in their community.”
The simple task of placing a garbage bag in your car or taking your own litter home to dispose of after a walk are simple and effective solutions, she said.
“Every time I walk I pick up litter. I do it year round. When you think of tourism and general pride and self esteem in your community it makes no sense to me to litter.”
Until people adopt her strategy full- time, the cleanup will continue with the assistance of the CBRM solid waste department and community groups and firefighters.
“The fire departments play a big role in this. They are the bases for people to gather to get the garbage bags and gloves that solid waste provides. And then the fire departments are really good at co-ordinating where people should go, so you don’t have too many people in one spot and nobody in another spot.”
The cleanup will run from 10 a.m. until noon and cover all areas of the newly expanded district, including Georges River, Boisdale, Christmas Island, Grand Narrows, Frenchvale, Coxheath, NorthsideEast Bay and Seaview Drive.
Gathering places will be at the Boisdale, Christmas Island, Frenchvale, Georges River, and Northside East Bay volunteer fire departments. People can also meet at the Ferryman’s Hall in Grand Narrows, Knox United Hall in Coxheath, St. Columba Church Hall in Leitches Creek and the Northern Yacht Club.
People can sign in at these locations and pick up gloves, garbage bags and instructions on where they can pick up litter if they don’t already have a place in mind.
Barbecues and prize draws will follow the cleanup in some of the locations.
If people want to pick up litter on a different day, Rowe asks that they still call one of the staging areas so they can be added to an overall report on the cleanup.
Residents are reminded that the cleanup is for litter and not heavy garbage. If someone should see heavy garbage they can call the Const. Derek Kelly from the Cape Breton Regional Police at 563-5151 to report the incident.