The City of Guelph’s annual Clean and Green initiative saw people collectively pick up 3,300 kg of waste across the city.
Or as supervisor of trails and natural areas Dave Beaton likes to put it for better visualization, a hippo’s weight in trash.
Despite the cold spring that the city has seen so far, 1,230 people registered for the Clean and Green event, 100 more than the city was expecting.
Wellington Water Watchers partnered up with the city to clean up the wetland behind the Canadian Tire on Woodlawn Street that was littered with plastic, tires, construction materials and even shopping carts.
“We had a great day and people were in good spirits,” said Beaton.
Due to the short staff in the city parks department, the community cleanup makes a significant difference in the cleanup before the summer begins.
“I would say that the city has been put in a great state to start the season for the summer staff starting any day now,” said Beaton.
Beaton said a variety of things were cleaned up from the city from mattresses to propane tanks to elections signs and cigarette butts.
Participants helped clean 130 sites across the city that includes 78 parks, 35 trails and several roadways.
The city held a celebratory barbeque at the Riverside Park to thank the volunteers who participated in the successful event.
“It was a good event and it was a great partnership with ARCH and we're really pleased,” said Beaton.
