Many hands make light work

The Great Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up launch will be happening on May 9 at 11 a.m. at Harbour View Elementary School and they are looking for some help.

Everyone who registers that day will get clean-up supplies, a map of the areas to clean, a free T-shirt and refreshments.

The program is launched each year in partnership with a local community group to remind Nova Scotians that organizing a litter clean-up can be a fun outdoor activity that connects people with their communities. And it’s good for the environment.

This year, the Clean Foundation, the non- profit environmental group that has been doing the litter clean-ups since 1992, is partnering with the Take Action Society for the May 9 event.

The Great Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up is one of the largest volunteer initiatives in the province. It supports litter clean-ups, offering free kits to schools, businesses, municipalities, families and individuals.

“It’s our longest running program,” said Sean Kelly, communications specialist for the Clean Foundation. “Last year there were 18,771 participants volunteering on 269 clean-ups across the province. They picked up 6,945 garbage bags worth of trash, and 668 blue bags of recyclables.”

He hopes at least 100 people show up to help clean-up at Harbour View.

“The Take Action Society have already shown they are making a difference in the community, so it will be great to work with them that day and the public, too.”

Litter poses health risks, affects water quality and is often mistaken as food by wildlife. Kelly said their studies show that people tend to litter in areas where there is already garbage on the ground.

“Through this program we encourage people to get out in the fresh air, do something good for the environment and meet people within their community. What better way to do that than to host a community litter clean-up? When people are connected to each other and the environment, they might have a greater interest in the place they call home and perhaps take measures to keep it clean, but more importantly, prevent things such as litter from becoming a problem in their community in the first place.”

Kelly said sometimes people don’t even know they are littering.

“It might be caused by loose garbage at the curb or blown off of vehicles on a highway. It is important that people keep their garbage and recycling contained to prevent it from blowing away or being accessible to wildlife.”

The Clean Foundation and the Take Action Society want this event to be about making lasting changes in the community.

“Our title sponsor GLAD will be there, helping to facilitate the event and Eddie, the loveable superhero cat, will be there cheering on all the youth that participate. Litter is everyone’s problem.”