"One of the strongest contributors to littering is the prevalence of existing litter."
-- (Keep America Beautiful, 2009 National Litter Research Findings and Recommendations)
Help Give Thunder Bay a Makeover this Spring!
May is the month for Thunder Bay's annual community-wide Spring Up to Clean Up event. In each of the last two years close to 11,000 volunteers have cleaned up over 250 areas in and around the City, including 1,100 staff at 100 workplaces who took part in the 20-Minute Makeover launch event. We would like to send out a big "THANK YOU" to all who have participated over the last fourteen years and helped keep Thunder Bay clean, green and beautiful.
According to the 2009 Keep America Beautiful study noted above, involving individuals in clean-up activities can help to raise their awareness about litter as an issue, and to increase their commitment to prevent litter. This is our hope for the thousands of students who take part in Spring Up each year. Join them and thousands of other citizens who roll up their sleeves each spring to help beautify Thunder Bay.
There are a variety of activities planned to help clean up the City, both indoors and out. Check out the Spring Up to Clean Up calendar of events for details about the Spring Up 20-Minute Makeover for workplaces, the general Spring Up program, Community Yard Sale Day, the curb-side leaf and yard waste collection, and free tipping week at Thunder Bay's Solid Waste & Recycling Facility.
Check out the links below for more information about the history of Spring Up, and to register your clean-up. Participating groups, businesses and individuals receive supplies, public recognition and a chance to win great prizes!
Your Clean-Up
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Register Your Clean Up
- 2011 Spring Up Participants
- Spring Up Litter Tracker
- Spring Up to Clean Up Sponsors
Take Part in our Spring Up to Clean Up Contests !
Spring Up to Clean Up History
Community Yard Sale Day - May 14th
Spring Up to Clean Up 2011 Calendar of Events:
Spring Up to Clean Up 20-Minute Makeover Launch Event for Workplaces
Friday, April 29th at 10am
Rally up your co-workers and neighbours to give your business area a makeover! Register your workplace by April 22nd for clean-up supplies, public recognition and a gift from event sponsor, Tim Horton’s (whiles supplies last). Help clean up our downtowns and commercial areas…it’s good for business!
Spring Up to Clean Up
Month of May
Individuals, families, community groups, workplaces, and school groups can register their clean-up of a park, roadside, trail, waterway, neighbourhood or school grounds to receive clean-up supplies, draw prizes and public recognition. Participating schools will receive a gift certificate to a plant or tree nursery of their choice and school ground naturalization manual to help beautify their school yards. Watch for chances to win more great prizes (and fame) with our Spring Up photo contest, poster contest, and even a commercial contest. Stay tuned for details.
Educational Resources for Teachers:
Free Tipping Week at the Thunder Bay Solid Waste and Recycling Facility
May 1st-8th
Landfill tipping fees will be waived for all cars and non-commercial light trucks. All loads coming in should be organized to prevent items from being buried in with the garbage and for easy removal to the following lay down areas: Household Recycling (paper, glass, cardboard, tetra-paks & milk cartons, metal cans, aluminum cans and #1 and #2 plastic bottles only), Electronic Waste, and Household Hazardous Waste. At the Public Waste Disposal Site, areas include Household Garbage, Scrap Metal, Large/Bulky Items such as mattresses and tires and a Compost Lay Down area. Call 684-2195 for more information.
Leaf and Yard Waste Curb-side Collection
May 3rd-13th on your regular recycling day
Place your leaves, bundled branches, and garden waste out for curb-side pickup. Look for the leaf symbol on your garbage collection calendar for your leaf & yard waste collection day (if you're not sure when this is you can call 684-2195). Use only clear plastic bags or kraft (paper) bags. Kraft bags are available at hardware and grocery stores, are biodegradable and can be placed directly into the compost pile. These materials are taken to the City of Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Facility and made into soil enriching compost.
You can also deliver compostable materials such as, leaves, shrubs and branches directly to the landfill site compost area. No grass clippings please.
Community-Wide Yard Sale Day
Saturday, May 14th (rain date: Sunday, May 15th)
Now that you’ve cleaned up outside, how about working on the inside? This is a great opportunity to clear out your closets and find some great deals! Register your yard sale with EcoSuperior by May 13th and we’ll help you advertise! Yard sales help you REDUCE waste and SAVE money. If you’re not sure what to do with your leftover items, check out Thunder Bay’s Green Guide on-line or pick up a paper copy at the EcoSuperior office. Looking for a bargain? Visit the list of yard sale locations .
Nominate a Location for Litter & Recycling Bins
Due Date: May 15th
Have you noticed an area that is in need of a litter bin? Nominate your location by May 15th for a chance to win draw prizes, and a cleaner city.
Spring Up to Clean Up is funded by the City of Thunder Bay and delivered by EcoSuperior. We would like to thank all Spring Up participants and the following sponsors and supporters for helping to make this event such a great success: Tim Hortons, Ontario Power Generation, Acklands-Grainger, Superior Safety, Boston Pizza, Litter Free Thunder Bay, Bill Martin’s Nurseryland and Thunder Bay Broom & Chemical.
Page last updated on Tuesday, May 10, 2011
