Spring has sprung in city — so has the litter

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This article was published 27/03/2024 (845 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Although a spring snowfall has blanketed Winnipeg streets, Take Pride Winnipeg has managed to find the dirt.

Volunteers have combed the city to determine which areas are the worst for litter as they compile their annual litter index.

Some areas have improved, but most streets are filled with as much garbage as ever.

“Particularly around Kenaston and Bison Drive: awful, awful, awful” said Tom Ethans, executive director of Take Pride Winnipeg.

The group rates litter levels in neighbourhoods and on streets on a scale from one to 10 — one being the cleanest and 10 being the dirtiest. It’s a way to gauge how much trash its volunteers collect.

South Winnipeg, which encompasses Kenaston Boulevard and Bison Drive, was rated a 6.4 this spring, versus 5.94 last year.

Ethans said volunteers found numerous garbage bags on Kenaston Boulevard south, which he suspects were thrown out by people on their way to the city landfill who decided to litter instead.

Southwest Winnipeg had more litter this year than last, Ethans noted.

“They need more help this year,” said Ethans of those neighbourhoods.

The main culprit is cigarette butts: Ethans said a small group of student volunteers picked up about 39,000 butts in a five-day period in 2022.

“It’s mind-boggling to me,” Ethans said, pointing out that cigarette receptacles are on many streets, while his organization hands out pocket ashtrays.

Disposable coffee cups and fast-food containers are also chucked onto the street.

Empress Street, along Omand’s Creek, is also a hot spot.

“It’s just horrendous again, with plastic and other things, and when people see the litter that’s there, then they add to it with their own litter,” said Ethans.

The organization is looking for about 15,000 volunteers — including groups from schools and businesses — to sign up to help pick up litter.

“Once the snow’s finally gone, let’s get it done quickly and beautify our city as quickly as we can,” said Ethans.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca