The Elk River Alliance is inviting residents across the Elk Valley to take part in the 14th annual Elk River Shoreline Cleanup, happening Sunday, Sept. 28, in celebration of World Rivers Day.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and encourages individuals, families and groups to help remove litter from the shoreline of the Elk River and nearby areas.
“There’s nothing better than seeing our community embrace the Elk River and all it has to offer,” says Aleshia Conley, program assistant with the Elk River Alliance.
“However, with that comes inevitable bits of garbage. A single lost shoe while floating to the boat launch, or a beer can tipped overboard while reeling in a fish, can quickly add up over the summer months.”
Last year’s cleanup reportedly collected nearly 10,000 pieces of garbage, including 2,174 cigarette butts, 800 beverage cans and more than 1,500 food wrappers.
Cleanup stations will be set up at the Dogwood Park boat launch in Fernie, the Elk River Trail entrance in Sparwood, and near the Esso station by Elkford Bridge in Elkford.
Volunteers can stop by to pick up gloves, garbage bags, data cards and snacks.
Participants are also encouraged to explore other locations along the shore, such as boat launches, recreation sites and roadside areas.
Plastic pollution remains a national concern
According to Statistics Canada, Canadians discard more than 5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually.
In 2021, an estimated 40,262 tonnes of plastic leaked into the environment, including rivers, lakes and oceans.
Packaging makes up the largest share of this pollution, accounting for 43.8 per cent of the total.
While more plastic is reportedly being diverted from landfills, the amount of plastic waste remains high.
Prizes and community support
All cleanup participants on Sept. 28 will be entered to win a variety of prizes, including awards for most garbage collected, best photos and the ERA Choice Award.
Three additional prizes will be chosen at random.
The event is supported by the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C. and Big Bang Bagels.
Sponsors include Gearhub, Fernie Distillers, Elk River Guiding, Big Bang Bagels, Kootenay Fly Shop, Park Place Lodge and Ski Base.
For more information, visit www.elkriveralliance.ca .
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