Litter bug making a home out of Brandon

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This article was published 29/04/2022 (1609 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As snow piles disappear in Brandon’s nooks and crannies, a hideous reality is revealed: litter.

Everything from to-go cups, take-out containers, plastic cutlery and face masks can be found along the city’s streets and in alleyways.

Not only are these abandoned items unsightly, they are an environmental hazard. Fortunately, there are a few cleanup initiatives planned in Brandon to swat the litter bug away.

The Riverbank Discovery Centre will be holding its annual spring litter cleanup but is extending the time to a full week from May 23 to June 4. Anyone who wants to help clean up the trails and green spaces can go to the centre and they will be given bags and gloves. Bags will be separated into regular trash and recyclables.

The centre is allocating more time for spring cleaning for a few reasons, said Rochelle Johnson-Boswell, programming and community relations co-ordinator. The recent storms and cooler temperatures slowing down snowmelt have hampered cleanup efforts.

However, she did say there seems to be a higher-than-normal amount of garbage around the grounds. This can be attributed to bad weather sweeping trash around and thwarting efforts to clean it up. Advertising the cleanup now will hopefully get more volunteers, she said.

Collecting litter for proper disposal is not just about aesthetics, it’s about environmental protection.

The centre is home to a variety of species that can be harmed by garbage through consumption or getting tangled up in it.

“This is where volunteers can help us protect the grounds,” she said. “We do these cleanups twice a year to catch that excess.”

Since the start of the pandemic, Johnson-Boswell said she has noticed a high number of disposable masks on the grounds. She has seen animals trapped in them, so she is eager to see a cleanup happen.

Litter in general is a health and environmental hazard, but there are studies indicating the pollution is spreading to the micro level. Nature Conservancy Canada reported in March 2021, more than 100 aquatic species have been found with microplastics inside of them, which can leach toxins into their flesh and blood, pierce organs and clog their digestive tracts.

Science Daily also reported in March 2021 that 129 billion disposable masks are discarded every year around the world. These are classified as plastics and also break down into microplastics and leach toxins as they degrade.

Johnson-Boswell said with restrictions and mask mandates lifted, she is hoping to see fewer masks. As well, she is expecting people will be happy to get out and show their community pride after being locked down for two years. They always get volunteers for the cleanup and expects the same for this year.

The City of Brandon has had to postpone group litter cleanup initiatives due to recent storms, but it is offering to help residents if they want to clean up a green space, said Merrilea Price, corporate communications officer for the city. Anyone who wants to volunteer can contact Lindsay Hargreaves, environmental initiatives co-ordinator, at 204-729-2171 or l.hargreaves@brandon.ca to set up a location and time.

Brandon isn’t alone in its fight against a growing litter problem. Take Pride Winnipeg released its annual litter index and it shows an increase in trash on the city’s streets. Winnipeg as a whole is a 2.37 out of a scale of one to four, an increase from 2.18 last year.

While this looks discouraging, executive director Tom Ethans told the Free Press he always has people calling who want to volunteer to clean up parts of the city.

“The number of people that we get calls from, who would like to help, would like to spend a little time cleaning up — that’s incredible,” he says. “It doesn’t take much to make a difference … it’s just a matter of getting out there and getting it done.”

» kmckinley@brandonsun.com, with files from the Free Press

» Twitter: @karenleighmcki1