April is community clean up month in the Central Okanagan

KELOWNA – Volunteers gathered in the woods yesterday for the official kickoff of an annual, month-long community clean up event.

Community clean up has taken place in the Central Okanagan every April for more than 20 years.

”The clean up will tackle a lot of debris that should not be there in the first place, even a few burned out camper trailers," Rae Stewart, Waste Reduction Facilitator says in a media release. "We’ll be putting out a lot of elbow grease to leave the great outdoors the way it should be, pristine. And sending a message to those who dump and litter, that it’s not ok.”

According to the release from the Regional District of Central Okanagan, more than 50 volunteers attended the kickoff event yesterday, April 1 at Bartley Road in West Kelowna near the trail head to McDougall Rim Forestry Trails.

The popular recreation area is known as a "chronic illegal dump hotspot."

Organizers hope the month-long initiative will help address illegal dumping and foster a continued collaborative clean up effort.

“Over the years, literally thousands of residents have participated in community clean ups in our region, logging thousands of volunteer hours-everyone from school and church groups, to Brownies, Cubs, service organizations, businesses, families, co-workers, and friends. It’s a remarkable outpouring of community pride and spirit,” Stewart says.

To arrange a community clean up event and access free litter bags and gloves, contact the Regional Waste Reduction office at 250-469-6250.

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