Calgarians pitch-in to clean up

Last weekend cleaning was top of mind for many Calgarians who participated in both local Community Clean-ups and the 48th annual Pathway and River Cleanup.

Councillor Ward Sutherland with staff and volunteers.

Each year, from April to September, we team up with local community associations to help you get rid of their unwanted household items and property waste for free.

Community Cleanup in action around town

The Montgomery Community Association hosted this year’s kick-off event during their Community Cleanup on May 2. With five truck loads of waste weighing over 18,000 kilograms and one truck load of organics weighing over 3,300 kilograms, the community really pitched in to help pitch out.

“It was a huge success. People were impressed with how quickly the line moved and some even came back two and three times,” says Marilyn Wannamaker, Montgomery Community Association president. “The Community Cleanup is a great initiative to get residents involved with their community association. It’s a great example of people working together to create a better community.”

With 112 Community Cleanup weekend events scheduled this year, a 15 per cent increase from last year, there is a clear demand from citizens for this type of service.

The City of Calgary supplies three packer trucks (two for waste and one for organic materials) to each registered community for each cleanup. Community associations register through 311 to run a Community Cleanup.

48th annual Pathway and River Cleanup

Calgary’s weather forecast predicted showers and possibly even snow. Thankfully, Mother Nature cooperated and brought nothing but sunshine for the 48th annual Pathway and River Cleanup on May 3.

More than 2,900 volunteers generously donated their time on Sunday morning to collect approximately 4,000 kilograms of garbage. A total of 132 volunteer groups, 31 City staff volunteer drivers and assistants, and 14 City bike volunteers participated in this year’s event helping to remove hundreds of bags of litter from our parks and green spaces.

A number of interesting items were uncovered during the event, including a pair of skis, 300 CDs, a table top and a baby gate. Check out our Storify from this year’s Pathway and River Cleanup, including some of the strange and unique objects found and the amazing volunteers who helped make this event possible.

To learn more about the event, or to find out how you can volunteer for next year’s Pathway and River Cleanup, visit calgary.ca/pathwayandrivercleanup.

Feeling inspired?

Here are some other ways you can get involved:

• Pick up The Litter Cleanup Kits (TLC Kits) from one of the nine locations across the city and organize your own community cleanup. 
• Attend a P.U.P.P.Y. event and help “pitch in and pick up” waste in one of our off-leash parks.