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Tired of litter in our community? Here’s how to do something about it.

Teams wanted for Sooke Region cleanup
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The second annual Sooke Region-wide cleanup takes place on April 27 and 28. Last year volunteers, like Catherine Hawkins of Shirley, collected more than 150 garbage and recycling bags of trash. (Contributed)

Volunteers with Zero Waste Sooke are gearing up to orchestrate the second Sooke Region-wide cleanup as an Earth Day activity.

Like last year, the clean up won’t fall on Earth Day (April 22). It’s instead planned for the weekend of April 27 and 28.

“Last year we had participation from six of the nine communities that make up the Sooke Region,” said coordinator Wendy O’Connor.

“The result was amazing, especially since it was our first attempt at reaching out so far. It was a lot of work, combined with the Planet Earth Party celebration so we are keeping it simple this year.”

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Last year recycling and garbage bins were placed in East Sooke, Sooke and Otter Point. Shirley and the Pacheedaht Nation both joined too late to have bins delivered there.

More than 150 garbage and recycling bags (six large metal bins) were filled in one day.

Zero Waste organizers will reach out to the people who participated last year and are keen to have more involvement.

Learning from last year’s process, each set of bins will need an attendant and will be locked when not attended.

“Last year people dumped illegal materials in some of the bins and volunteers had to later climb into the bins to remove them. Also, lots of material that belonged in the recycling bins ended up in the garbage bin and subsequently in the landfill. With attendants this hopefully won’t happen again,” O’Connor said.

Gloves, reflective vests and garbage bags will be provided to registered teams.

If you want to get involved in the coordinating for your community or neighbourhood, please register with Wendy O’Connor by email at wendyoconnor@me.com or telephone 250-361-6965.



editor@sookenewsmirror.com

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