Answering the garbage clean-up call
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by Chris Simon

Sometimes when the mayor speaks, you just have to listen.

The town's annual Pitch-In Day took place on Saturday, and despite advertisements and articles in local media outlets, the number of residents participating appears to be down this year.

It has been suggested that a number of factors may have played a role in the lower than expected turnout. The Pitch-In Day organizing committee started on preparations later than normal, due mostly to the move into the New Town Hall.

But anyone watching mayor Brian Jackson speak about the effort could see the disappointment in his face. About 2,000 people are believed to have participated in the threehour annual event. But most of the residents participating were students from local schools, who were picking-up trash during class time throughout the last week. Many others were students from Nantyr Shores Secondary School, who were fulfilling their mandated community volunteering obligations.

These students do valuable work, and contribute a large percentage of the Pitch-In Day garbage found, but for whatever reason, few parents seem to be joining in the clean-up efforts. Even free refreshments, snacks and a barbecue lunch couldn't seem to draw much of an older crowd.

And without the encouragement of schools, the number of participants would almost certainly have sank further. It's left Jackson questioning whether the town's efforts are worth it, and he's even suggested Pitch-In Day may not take place next year.

The thought may have been a slight overreaction - or warning call - over the less than anticipated participation numbers. But the potential disbanding of Pitch-In Day would certainly have a negative impact on the town.

For about a decade, Pitch-In Day is one of the town's best efforts to clean-up the municipality, and bring awareness to the littering that takes place over the winter months. Garbage tossed from vehicles during cold and snowy conditions collects over months, leaving ditches, parks and roadsides littered with coffee cups, full garbage bags and large-scale items like televisions and couches.

Last year, about 18-tons of garbage was collected during the event.

Run-off from this garbage seeps into streams and the local watershed, and is flat-out unsightly. And right now, the town admits it simply doesn't have the staff to fully clean the municipality, meaning that without Pitch-In Day, garbage would continue to build.

Many of the residents who did participate helped for other reasons as well. Several pickedup broken glass and other dangerous items from parks, ensuring child play areas remain free of debris.

Of course, Pitch-In was also an opportunity to get fresh air for three hours, and teach children the responsibility of cleaning up and protecting the environment.

Basically, Pitch-In Day is essential to the town and its residents for many reasons. Let's just hope that the mayor's call for help is answered.