Litter Clean-Up around Eileen Dailly Pool & Fitness Centre, Burnaby

September 21, 2024

Thank you to everyone who participated in our litter clean-up:

Aahana, Aaron, Alexander, Anaya, Andrew W., Angel, Angelina, Anudeep, Anwar, Art, Athena, Bicram, Cathy, Diana, Evanna, Etsuko, Golian, Harveen, Hema, Hong, Hyerim, Jacqueline, Jaiveer, James, Jason, Jeff, Jie, Jim, Joseph, Joshua, Kavita, Kevin, Layla, Lenita, Lily, Maeva, Matthew, Megan, Michael, Nadia, Nicole, Nobu Paolo, Paul, Peter, Pilar, Ravinder Singh, Ryan, Sam H., Sam T., Samuel, San Yin, Stuart, Sue & Susan

Thank you to our volunteer litter leaders who played a vital role in leading this community clean-up:

Jan, Gary and Andrew H.

Participants of all ages and backgrounds came together for our 5th & final Burnaby litter cleanup of 2024 to connect with one another and make a positive environmental impact!

Impacts

57 community members were engaged
- 16 participants cleaned up litter for the first time
- 22 participants visited the Eileen Dailly Leisure Pool & Fitness Centre for the first time
Community members joined us from across the Lower Mainland, including from Burnaby (35) Coquitlam, Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey, Delta and New Westminster!
- Our activities are designed to foster a sense of community that extends beyond municipal borders. By engaging community members from across the region, we are reminded that we are part of a larger, interconnected community and have a shared responsibility of creating a cleaner, healthier environment regardless of where we call home
175 hours were contributed towards keeping litter out of streets, waterways and ecosystems to create a cleaner, healthier community
136 lbs of litter was removed
Over 5,000 pieces of litter were tracked and removed including:
- 3,588 cigarette butts
- 868 food wrappers
- 394 bits of paper & cardboard
- 82 plastic bags
- 100 cups & lids
- 87 pieces of glass
- 32 bottles & cans
- 10 items of clothing/shoes
- 5 pieces of electronics
- 82 pieces of metal
- 10 pieces of styrofoam
- and more!
Some interesting finds included:
- Car exhaust pipe
- Hub cap
- Carpet
- Flip flops
- Pair of socks
- Nerf gun bullet
- Urine sample bottle
- Weed whack string
- Leftover party supplies like popped balloons, plastic confetti and a party popper

Highlights

This was our 5th and final 2024 litter clean-up with City of Burnaby!
BIG thank you to Zac and Ron for co-leading this activity, picking up large garbage items, and bringing Timbits and donuts for community members to enjoy
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley and Councillor Richard T. Lee joined us and shared their appreciation to everyone for coming together to take care of the community
- The Mayor shared an inspiring speech about the importance of caring for one another and the places we live!
- A heartfelt thanks to Mayor Hurley for his ongoing support of our partnership with the City of Burnaby’s Engineering and Planning departments. His commitment to community wellness and environmental initiatives truly make a difference in Burnaby!
Our litter leaders, Jan, Gary, Andrew, Zac, Jeanine and Ashton did a wonderful job guiding and supporting community members in this litter cleanup
New friendships were created as participants worked side-by-side taking care of this community!
Matthew, Anwar, Jan, Gary, Andrew and Ryan helped pack up our vehicle with all of supplies like pros! Thank you so much for your help doing so
See how our other four 2024 litter clean-ups with the City of Burnaby went:
Imagine the impacts if each person who joined us adopted their street or block!
- Learn more about and join the City of Burnaby’s Adopt a Street Program
- Don’t live in Burnaby? Many municipalities and organizations have Adopt-a-Street or Adopt-a-Block programs. Reach out to your local municipality to learn about options where you live!
Delicious snacks including dried shiitake mushrooms, lemon biscotti, coconut clusters, cucumbers and more were devoured at our break
We enjoyed tracking the litter we picked up using our litter tracker app created by one of our own community members, Chris!

What Community Members Said

"I had an amazing time today at the litter cleanup event! It was such a rewarding experience working alongside other passionate volunteers. The positive energy and dedication were truly inspiring. A huge thank you to the City of Burnaby and the Lower Mainland Green Team for organizing this fantastic event and ensuring everything was so well-prepared. Can’t wait for the next one!"

"I felt a sense of cooperation and a sense of accomplishment while walking together on a clear day."

"I had a great time getting outside, making a tangible difference, and meeting new people and catching up with people from other LMGT events!These cleanup events are very effective at bringing together the community towards a common goal that everyone can feel good about. Seeing a cleaner community at the end of the event is very encouraging and helps us realize we can make a difference."

"These events make you more aware of your own responsible disposal and provide a positive example for others that pass by.I am happy to have joined another litter cleanup event in Burnaby. Positive vibes, great snacks and necessary equipment were provided. The Lower Mainland Green Team and City of Burnaby Engineering Department did a great job on the event once again. I cannot wait until next year to participate in more of these events."

"I enjoy a lot to join for Burnaby's last litter cleanup of 2024. I have learnt something new and met different people. This event encourages community groups to organize litter cleanups and enables participants to report data on the litter collected, thereby contributing to long-term conservation efforts. Moreover, it can also spread awareness in the community to participate in these initiatives and events which can make a difference in preserving the environment for future generations.I feel satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment to be part of the community. This cleanup also raises awareness more broadly among passersby even the small kids and they inspired us and inquired eagerly how to sign up for the event."

Community Investment Partner

THANK YOU to the City of Burnaby’s Engineering Department for being a Community Investment Partner and providing support on the day, funds and direction to make this activity possible!

Working together with the City of Burnaby promotes environmental stewardship, fosters a strong sense of belonging and shared responsibility among residents.

In-kind Support

Our gratitude to our in-kind supporter, Tru Earth, for generously providing their wonderful laundry detergent strips to our community members to take home.

If you’re interested in contributing in-kind or have ideas for potential partnerships, please reach out to Ashton. Your support makes a difference!

Why We Do This Work

The Lower Mainland Green Team is a program of the charity Green Teams of Canada.

We believe in the transformative power of hands-on environmental activities to empower individuals and strengthen communities.

Through initiatives like invasive plant removals, tree plantings, and litter clean-ups, we not only foster connections among participants but also deepen their relationship with nature. Spending time outdoors has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety while enhancing mood, focus, and overall mental and physical health.

Our activities are designed to be inclusive, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and skill levels.

What sets us apart is we attract a wide mix of young community members who may not otherwise spend time outside, igniting their passion for nature and environmental care.

We are committed to instilling an environmental ethic that leads to lasting behaviour change. We aim to create a sense of belonging and connection to place, encouraging participants to recognize their ability to make a meaningful impact.

Together, we can all make a difference. Join us as we build a brighter, greener future for everyone!

Staff Who Made This Activity Happen!

Ashton Kerr, the Lower Mainland Green Team (LMGT)’s Partnerships Manager led this activity with support from Jeanine Sinclair, our new LMGT Program Manager!