The Spruce City Wildlife Association is taking spring cleaning to the back roads.
For the first time in 40 years, they’re asking for volunteers to help pick up litter in the backcountry around Prince George.
Director Steve Hamilton says they’re taking action because of an increasing amount of garbage out in the bush.
“We noticed a growing problem when it came to trash in the area and it’s not just localized to city limits or just outside of it. There’s garbage everywhere down logging roads and in the bush. It affects everybody: from people to animals, rivers lakes. It’s just getting worse and we decided to do something about it.”
Hamilton says he believes most of the trash has been taken out and dumped.
“It’s willful dumping – people are taking it out there intentionally. I was out and 2km up a logging road there was a hot water tank off to the side of the road. That’s quite obviously not somebody who’s gone out there to camp and decided to leave a water heater behind. It’s willful disregard.”
He says they’ve seen a lot of interest in the event already with more than 400 people have joined a Facebook group – PG area back road clean up. – created to help coordinate the clean-up effort.
“It’s something that Spruce City Wildlife and citizens around the Prince George area seem to be pretty passionate about and you name it, we want it cleaned up. Many hands do make light work and we’d appreciate all the help we can get.”
Hamilton says local businesses are pitching in as well.
“We’ve been lucky enough to have some pretty great sponsors that have stepped up. The Recycling and Environmental Action Planning Society is going to help with tipping fees, gloves and garbage bags. Waste Management is going to donate some bins,” says Hamilton. “Wood Wheaton and Discount Don have stepped up – they’re going to donate some vehicles to help transport. The Conservation Officer’s Service has been incredible with this every step of the way and Brandt Tractor are going to be donating some heavy equipment for us.”
The clean-up event is planned for May 1, when the back roads have had a chance to dry out.
If you’d like to volunteer, here’s the official Facebook event.