Student and employee volunteers removed 13 bags of garbage and a variety of discarded items in Selkirk College’s first cleanup of Frank Beinder Way since joining the City of Castlegar's Adopt-a-Road program.
Selkirk College will organize cleanups twice a year to help keep the 1.7-kilometre stretch of road leading to the Castlegar Campus clean, safe and welcoming.
"Frank Beinder Way is a beautiful entrance to the Castlegar Campus," says Maggie Matear, Selkirk College president. “Through the Adopt-a-Road program, we can put our values into action by caring for the land around us and strengthening our connection to the community."
Volunteers uncovered a significant amount of litter hidden in dense brush and down embankments. They collected tires, vehicle parts, metal poles, paint cans, kitchen appliances, ventilation tubing, a car stereo, countless fragments of deteriorating plastic bags and more.
Alongside the large items, some of the smallest pieces of litter raised the greatest concern.
“It was surprising how many cigarette butts we found in the dry grass at the edge of the forest,” says Lareena Rilkoff, vice-president, finance and corporate services.
“We appreciate those who add an ashtray in their vehicles to help us prevent the risk of wildfires on our beautiful campuses and surrounding trails."
The cleanup also revealed a few unexpected treasures.
"I've been wanting a manual hand mixer, and I actually found one in a pile of items dumped down the embankment," says Kayla Tillapaugh, Selkirk College’s sustainability coordinator. "I had to laugh, but it highlights some important issues, from throwing away perfectly good items that people in need could use, to illegal dumping, to bears gaining access to human trash.”
Get Involved in Community-Led Stewardship
The cleanup highlights how community-led stewardship can help keep communities and natural areas clean and safe. “We’re grateful to everyone who came out to help, and we encourage people to secure household garbage in wildlife-proof containers, carry a portable ashtray and dispose of garbage properly,” says Tillapaugh.
Interested in helping out? Keep an eye out for future cleanup events!