Spring is here, and so is trash, said Vanderhoof resident Timothy Reimer.
Previously hidden under the winter snow, the pervasive trash problem has been exposed as temperatures rise.
Reimer has not only taken to Facebook to encourage others to stop and clean it up but has offered his help with illegal dumpsites.
“As a member of the Spruce City Wildlife Association (SCWA) I felt it was important to make sure we keep our local forest and community cleaned up as well,” he said.
“If not us, who is going to clean it up for future generations to enjoy?”
Read More: Community clean-up tackles litter across Vanderhoof
According to Riemer, backcountry clean-up is a big initiative that Don Willimont and SCWA president Steve Hamilton started over five years ago.
Over the past several years, SCWA volunteers have removed more than 20 cars and multiple boats and campers trashed away out of sight but not hidden from wildlife, Reimer said.
More than 600,000 pounds of waste has been collected and either recycled or hauled to landfills.
The dad of three young children who works as a saw filer at Canfor’s Plateau mill in Vanderhoof said in the future, he would like to organize clean-up days in troubled areas that see repeated dumping and get more local people involved.
“I would also like to bring back the sponsored roadside clean-ups possibly as well,” Reimer added.
Read More: With take out and online shopping on the rise, Recycle BC releases tips for recycling
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