GARBAGE CLEANUPS
We typically host our Community Garbage Cleanups twice a year – one in the spring and one in the fall. We meet at a central location in Orillia and have a community meeting to share information and resources, and then split off into groups to clean up around town! All are welcome to join! Our garbage cleanup events have grown from a small group of about 20 people, to over 50 people at our most recent one. See our past cleanups:
Spring 2023
50+ participants
After robust sorting: 27 bags of garbage and 19 bags of recycling
Summer 2022
15+ participants
Hybrid model – participants asked to clean up a waterway near them
Spring 2022
50+ participants
40+ bags collected
We were very fortunate to have Indigenous knowledge carriers and land/water protectors Luana and Kanzee share their teachings, wisdom, tobacco, and songs before we cleaned up. We are deeply grateful – miigwech.
Check out Kanzee’s youtube videos of the event – part 1 & part 2
Fall 2021
36+ participants
19+ bags collected
Poster made by M (@emwik.art on Instagram)
Spring 2021
Community members cleaned up garbage individually (due to COVID lockdown) – Green Orillia collected bags afterwards
52+ participants
62+ bags collected
Draw for gift certificates donated by Refillery District
Youtube video made by one of the participants!
Fall 2020
24+ participants
17+ bags collected
Draw for gift certificates donated by Refillery District
TO CLEAN UP OR NOT TO CLEAN UP?
The issue of waste is a complex and global problem. We see community garbage cleanups as effective for the following reasons:
- Helps to educate and raises awareness more broadly
- Builds strong community of concerned residents that can equip us to organize for better policy and demand better waste infrastructure
- Helps to build a safer and clean community, which studies have shown make people less likely to litter in
- Allows us to collect data on the litter found to determine where it comes from and thus aid longer-term efforts to advocate for policy change.
- Every piece of trash that is taken away to be recycled or deposited in a landfill means there is one less dangerous item for birds and aquatic animals to swallow. Cleanups can also restore these creatures’ habitats, prevent more toxic chemicals from entering waterways, and more.
However, it is also important to acknowledge the obvious: the fact that we wouldn’t have so much litter without the production of so many single-use items that need to be disposed of. Litter should be tackled at source and the real solution is a zero-waste society. Corporations which are the biggest polluters, such as Nestlé, Tim Hortons, Starbucks, McDonald’s, and The Coca-Cola Company, need to be held responsible. This is often known as the ‘polluter pays principle’, the idea that those who produce pollution should bear the costs of managing it to prevent damage to human health or the environment. We need urgent and robust policy change from all levels of government to make this possible. Below are some resources:
What are your thoughts on the issue? Send us an email at greenorillia@gmail.com!