Over the weekend, the Greater Victoria Green Team (GVGT) rounded up 24 community members and removed over 31 pounds of litter from Goldstream Avenue and surrounding streets.
For context, GVGT says this weight is around the same as an average adult beagle.
According to the organizers of this cleanup, thousands of pieces of garbage were rounded up with cigarette butts being the most frequently littered item picked up.
GVGT says they picked up over 3,300 butts alone.
Other littered items that volunteers cleaned up included food wrappers, coffee cups, dental flossers, cellophane, pieces of homework, an old electronic cigarette, a glow stick, false nails, stickers, a hair tie, a chair leg, a band aid, a lighter, rubber gloves, medical masks and plastic straws.
“The community really came together for a fun day caring for the environment, including families with small children, students, working professionals, retirees, first timers, newcomers, returning GVGT and City of Langford volunteers,” said a GVGT spokesperson in a media release.
The organizers say that most people who came to the cleanup were local to the area and four Langford city councillors even contributed to the cause.
According to GVGT, over half of the volunteers who came out said it was their first time cleaning up litter.
The organizers say this is a huge win for nurturing responsible environmental behaviours.
GVGT orchestrated this cleanup in partnership with the City of Langford and say they will be holding another round of picking up litter in the area this fall.
They also regularly round up volunteers for clearing out invasive species all around Greater Victoria.
Anyone who is interested in helping out can find information on GVGT’s activities online.
Their next activity is scheduled for Saturday, July 20th, from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Portage East Park, View Royal.
