Snow’s Gone, Spring Cleanup Next
Orillia has two Earth Day (April 22) spring cleanup events. Green Orillia is organizing their 6th Community Garbage Cleanup (3rd connected to Earth Day activities). Spring is the season of new beginnings, but as snow melts it reveals what it has been hiding – garbage and debris.
The annual cleanup was started by Bob Bowles 20 years ago and he will lead a cleanup of the three parking lots at Scout Valley. The meeting place is Regan House at 10 a.m. Bowles will lead a nature walk after the cleanup.
Green Orillia joined a network of other communities organized by Environmental Defence to share information and promote their events.
Organizers have experienced more people pitching in to pick garbage each year. In 2022 they had 50 people join the cause.
Green Orillia provides bags and gloves. You just need to bring some water, and proper attire for the weather (rain or shine). People are welcome to bring their own garbage pickers.
The focus of the Green Orillia cleanup is city-wide. Participants will meet in Couchiching Beach Park (on the grass in front of the Jarvis Street parking lot) at 10 a.m. they can have a community gathering to share information and resources. From there, folks will collect their gloves and garbage bags and set off to an assigned location in Orillia.
This year an increased effort will be made to sort what is collected, so some volunteers will stay back at the park headquarters while others are out cleaning. They hope to quickly and efficiently sort and organize the bags of garbage as they come in to increase the waste diversion rate.
Orillia’s local low-waste market Refillery District is continuing its sponsorship by providing gift cards for a draw. You can RSVP for the cleanup on Green Orillia’s Facebook event page. Those not able to attend are encouraged to clean up garbage in their neighbourhood and when able and post photos tagging Green Orillia.
Green Orillia is a community organization dedicated to sharing news, events, tips, resources and initiatives for sustainability in Orillia and area. You can follow Green Orillia on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and sign up for the e-newsletter.
(Photos Supplied) Main: Green Orillia’s Madeleine Fournier with some of the 2022 Community Garbage Cleanup haul.
