Cleanliness is a reflection of the community's commitment to its assets, according to one resident of the Sunshine City.
“It's everybody's responsibility that if they see something, they should pick it up,” said Scott Fraser, who was among the 40 or so people that came out to participate in the city-wide clean up Saturday morning. “If you can carry (your coffee cups) in to the park, you can carry them out, too.”
He came out despite the damp and cool weather because he felt it’s important to clean up the garbage in spring.
“We use the parks, we're down here, so we should see if we can help if we've got the time,” said Fraser.
Others had joined in for the same reason.
“I want to see our city clean,” said Debbie Daniel. “It's disgusting seeing all the garbage lying around, especially with the snow all melted.”
The Orillia resident was at the annual spring clean up event with her husband, Tom Daniel, who said it always shocked him how careless people were with littering.
“It's like the hazard warning on a cigarette pack, people just ignore it and keep smoking,” he said. “I'll carry an empty cup as far as I have to. It's not that heavy.”
Bob Bowles, who co-organizes the event with the city’s Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC), felt hopeful for the future after seeing a number of kids helping out with the clean up.
“I’m exceptionally happy with the turnout, especially with the rain,” he said, adding in past years he’s had more than 100 people participate, but it’s all weather-dependent.
“We’ve got a great crew today to help clear out the plastic and garbage from parks and streets.”
Volunteers and city staff gave out gloves, bags to collect garbage and recycling, reusable water bottles and coffee mugs, as well as snacks, such as apples.
Eleven-year-old Parker Windsor, who came out with his family, was ready to pick up the trash that was strewn about in the parks and streets.
“It’s good to have a clean environment,” said the Orillia resident. “It feels better and you know you’ve helped.”
Windsor said it would be best to clean once every week and to remember not to litter in the first place.
It’s this enthusiasm and participatory spirit that Michael Williams hopes will last all year.
“People continue to be super supportive of this event,” said the EAC chair. “It's particularly gratifying to see the youth participating. It's wonderful that they recognize the issue of litter and the challenge of keeping trails and parks clean. They're great ambassadors.”
Orillia council is very supportive of the initiatives undertaken by the EAC, said Williams.
“But I think it's got to come from all levels, federal and provincial, too,” he said. “We're not going to have a great planet if we won't care for the environment.”
City staff collected the bags left at the sites volunteers were assigned to clean up, said Bowles.
In past years, as many as six truckloads have been taken to the landfill during clean up events, he added.
