Coun. Crystal Froese is thrilled that the annual community cleanup event returns this May but believes the city needs more than one day to address the litter that’s been “exponentially growing” recently.
During its April 8 regular meeting, city council received the recent meeting minutes from the community cleanup committee, which proposes that Sunday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. be the second annual city-wide cleanup.
The committee wants to emphasize public safety during this year’s cleanup day by having volunteers focus on parks and public spaces that are not near busy roads or streets. Instead, city crews will focus on high-traffic areas such as the Manitoba Expressway.
Similar to past years, the Moose Jaw Co-op will sponsor the day, provide a meeting place and host a barbecue for volunteers in the grocery store’s parking lot at 500 First Avenue Northwest. Upon arrival, volunteers will receive vouchers for the cookout and supplies for collecting garbage.
Coun. Heather Eby, council’s rep on the committee, explained that she accepted the role of group chairwoman because no one else was willing to take on that responsibility. Moreover, the committee needs more members — especially from community groups — because membership is lower this year than in the past.
City staff work hard on this event, while corporate partners like Co-op also provide support, she said, before encouraging residents to help clean up their neighbourhoods.
“I think it’s wonderful that we have a concerted effort one day of the year that tries to tackle the littering problem, but it seems littering is exponentially … growing,” said Froese. “I’ve really noticed it in the last couple of years and I’m not sure what the reasoning is for that.”
Two areas where litter seems to pile up regularly are Ninth Avenue Northeast and Thatcher Drive, as well as on the one-way streets, she continued. Furthermore, she regularly helps the South Hill cleanup committee during its work bees and sees that, by mid-summer, trash fills those same areas again.
Froese added that the city’s cleanup committee should consider adding other dates throughout the year to combat the growing scourge of litter.
The committee has discussed having more than one event annually, although the municipality does hold fall cleanups, said Eby. Meanwhile, city staff have suggested that the committee focus on public safety during these events because city crews have experienced close calls recently with inattentive motorists.
“I also agree that the entire … community needs to think about this every day and not just one day a year,” she added.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, April 22.
