COVID-19 delays litter cleanup

City says efforts slowed due to physical distancing measures

There was plenty of trash talk on St. John’s city council’s agenda on Monday.

An information note prepared by staff for council’s perusal said litter cleanup this spring will “take more time than in previous years, but will still be done.”

Normally, large-scale spring litter cleanups make fast work of the garbage that accumulates in public spaces around the capital throughout the winter. This year, however, COVID19 measures mean the roughly 300 community cleanup events held by Clean St. John’s every spring are now suspended.

As well, the city’s public works department is required to follow the physical distancing measures, which means a regular cleanup process by city staff in which several employees are assigned to specific areas is not possible.

“Intense activity at worksites does not occur. Tasks take longer as employee safety is paramount,” reads the information note.

While city employees are already working on cleaning up litter throughout the city, the task will be more time-consuming this year than normal because of the physical distancing requirements.

“While it is important to address the litter issue within the city of St. John’s, it is more important to adhere to the COVID-19 pandemic advice provided by the provincial and federal health authorities,” reads the information note.

“They indicate that now is not the time to relax the strict protocols that have been put in place and are working. Now is the time to remain focused and to continue to stop the spread (of) COVID-19 in order to protect our family, friends and community. By doing so the City of St. John’s will have a greater chance of continuing to provide the essential services to its residents.”

Coun. Ian Froude said there’s been a call for the city to do more to address litter, and the city is trying to find a balance between strict COVID-19 parameters and providing the cleanup service.

“It’s a problem that’s taken very seriously and staff are working hard to address it,” he said.

Deputy city manager of public works Lynnann Winsor said street cleaners will also be out once temperatures are consistently above freezing. She said that’s because street cleaning equipment uses water, and waiting for warmer temperatures will avoid creating icy conditions.

Meanwhile, the city is encouraging residents to tidy their immediate neighbourhood, bring a bag to collect litter on walks when it is safe to do so and take their trash home with them, especially animal feces. The city also asks that residents not use public garbage containers for household garbage because it blocks the containers and increases the likelihood that trash will blow around the street.