A summer’s worth of litter

LEASIDE LITTERATI

Here is what I’ve been up to this summer:

I’ve been holding park litterers accountable for cleaning up after themselves and holding non-residential property owners accountable for cleaning up the litter on their property.

Trace Manes has never looked better!

I hounded Leaside Atom Baseball about the deplorable state of the dugouts and bleachers after baseball games and they now leave the sports field spotless or will come by when notified to clean up.

Leaside Tennis Club has taken responsibility for its area and has garbage cans on the courts and a daily de-litter.

PedalHeads Bicycle Camp was the biggest offender and they too saw the mess they had been leaving and changed their ways.

This fall I contacted Leaside United Church about the litter that builds up in their hedge fence and  SmartCentres about the  property along Wicksteed. They have all responded kindly and put litter abatement programs in place with their maintenance staff.

The only one that seems unsolvable is Talbot Park because there is no one to hold accountable: random teens, and the city, which is the property owner, does not have an effective year-round litter abatement program.

I’ve sent a letter to Councillor Jon Burnside but don’t have much faith that anything will change. Thank goodness for people like Jeff Walker.

I’d be happy to tackle other litter issues in the neighbourhood if anyone has any “ litter bugs”.

Still waiting for garbage cans outside the entrances at Leaside Gardens. The grounds are looking much better.

And I continue to pick up random litter when out walking with my husband, much to his chagrin.

About Cheryl Vanderburg 42 Articles
Cheryl Vanderburg writes the monthly column "Leaside Litterati." She is a local 'plogger' who combines her love of walking with picking up litter. She hopes to inspire all Leasiders to join this newest craze to stay fit and keep our neighborhood green and clean.