The Elk River Alliance (ERA) is inviting people to this year’s river shoreline cleanup.
They will be hosting river cleanups in Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford on World Rivers Day, Sunday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“This summer, locals and tourists basked in the refreshing waters of the Elk River,” reads an ERA press release. “Unfortunately, where there are people, trash is soon to follow.”
An ERA member or volunteer will be present at each clean up site, and will provide garbage bags, gloves, and snacks. Participants will have a chance to win prizes.
Last year’s cleanup saw about 90 people remove 48 garbage bags from the shorelines.
“Plastic bags, pop and beer cans, cigarette butts, and various pieces of plastic were some of the most frequent items of trash.”
Last year, there were 378 cigarette butts, 365 beverage cans, 314 plastic pieces, 253 food wrappers, and 214 plastic bags. The strangest things found were a dead mouse in a bottle, an iPod nano, a full pack of pampers, and bear droppings with garbage in it.
Chad Hughes, executive director of the ERA, said that most river users are responsible, but that with increased use over the summer, the river and shoreline need cleaning.
“We’re also seeing a lot of historical trash and other material washed down during high water and last year’s flooding.”
The exact locations of each cleanup will be released on their social media and website next week.
For more information about the event, visit the ERA’s Facebook page or elkriveralliance.ca.
READ MORE: ‘It takes all of us’: Elk River Alliance celebrates community with barbecue
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