The City of St. Thomas is encouraging residents to get involved in the Community Clean Up running through to June 21.
The community clean up, which coincides with Earth Month, challenges residents, businesses, groups, organizations and classes to spend some time outdoors picking up garbage around their neighbourhoods, businesses, and schools.
Mayor Joe Preston notes participants register through the city website, with one individual’s name randomly drawn to win a prize.
Preston says with winter behind us, no doubt there is a considerable amount of garbage and debris left behind after the snow melted.
More information and a link to the sign-up form can be found here.
Instructions for collecting common litter:
1. Before collecting, put on the appropriate personal protective equipment.
2. If possible, use tongs or pick-up sticks to avoid direct contact with litter.
3. Collect debris into the appropriate bag or other container.
4. Take all necessary precautions, including being cautious near riverbanks or roads, having
adults handle dangerous items, and supervising children closely.
5. Remember to wash or sanitize your hands frequently and when you are finished.
6. Make sure bags and bins are properly closed, and take to a local garbage disposal location.
Instructions for collecting more hazardous litter:
1. Put on gloves.
2. Place your poke proof container on a stable surface beside the hazardous litter (use any
thick plastic, or metal container with a lid).
3. Use tongs to carefully collect the hazardous litter. Keep sharp points/edges pointed away
from you and never attempt to recap a used needle.
4. Place the item(s) into the container pointy end first and close the lid.
5. Remove gloves and wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer.
6. Take the container to a local disposal location, as listed on the SWPH website
