GTA environmental group nears 10 million pieces of litter collected milestone

A local environmental organization in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is on the cusp of achieving a significant milestone: removing 10 million pieces of litter from the region. A Greener Future, established in 2014, mobilizes community volunteers for cleanups that take place almost daily, spanning from Oshawa to Hamilton.

“

Pretty crazy to think about. First of all, that there’s 10 million pieces of litter out there, but also that all the volunteers have picked up that many.

During a recent cleanup at Amos Waites Park, volunteers, including members of the Cirque du Soleil team, collected an impressive 3,441 pieces of litter. "Pretty crazy to think about," said A Greener Future Program Assistant Rachel Lynn, reflecting on both the vast amount of litter and the collective effort to remove it. Program assistant Sadie Foster added, "I think the goal, really, is that we're thinking ahead, thinking into the future and making the world a better place each and every day."

“

I think the goal, really, is that we’re thinking ahead, thinking into the future and making the world a better place each and every day. And that’s what we’re doing with these cleanups.

The organization's efforts highlight the pervasive issue of pollution, with plastic fragments, packaging, and cigarette butts being the most commonly found items. Foster noted the significant impact of cigarette butts, stating, "They actually can contaminate up to 1,000 litres of water, just one cigarette butt." The group emphasizes that even small actions contribute to a larger change, encouraging potential volunteers by saying, "People think you have to do really big things to make a change... But, you can see with what we're doing here that every piece does matter."

“

It’s not only on stage, it’s beyond the stage. Obviously, littering and pollution is a common denominator to all these places, so we try through small actions like this to make a difference and make it right.