The Parks Cleanup Program gives residents and local groups an opportunity to volunteer for parks cleanups on a casual basis. The program is in partnership with the Great Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up Program.
Register now for a parks cleanup through the Great Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up Program.
Cleanup safety tips
- Wear appropriate and protective clothing according to the weather (e.g. boots, gloves, hat, sunscreen, etc.).
- Be familiar with your area.
- Only pick up litter during daylight hours.
- Watch for and avoid hazards, such as wild animals, insects, noxious weeds and glass.
- Do not pick up any material that may be hazardous, including:
- Needles/syringes, broken glass, chemicals, dead animals and/or heavy/oversized objects.
- Instead, mark the location and call 311.
- Needles/syringes, broken glass, chemicals, dead animals and/or heavy/oversized objects.
- Do not walk on roadways and be mindful of vehicles when near or adjacent to a road.
- Do not enter bodies of water to retrieve items.
- Do not approach homeless encampments, call 311 to report the location.
- Do not trespass on private property.
- Do not compress garbage or reach into garbage containers with hands or feet.
- Always put masks, gloves and other home health care waste in a bag before throwing them in the garbage.
- If you collect recyclables during your cleanup, please properly sort and recycle them.
- Wash your hands after your cleanup is complete.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the benefits of participating in a park cleanup?
Parks provide valuable leisure spaces, immeasurable health benefits, a connection to nature and opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. By participating in a cleanup, you can help give back to these green spaces and uncover even more benefits:
- Parks, recreational trails and community gardens provide residents with a beautiful setting that contributes to our quality of life.
- Maintained parks and open spaces increases the value of neighbouring residential property. Evidence points to a similar benefit for commercial properties.
- By being physically active outdoors, one’s health and wellbeing increases while reducing the risk of illness.
- Research shows that contact with the natural world improves physical and psychological well-being including reduced levels of anxiety and depression.
- Wetlands filter storm water before reaching our rivers. Also, tree root systems present cost efficient and effective alternatives to building additional concrete sewers and drainage ditches to manage erosion and storm run-off.
- Green spaces and waterways provide important habitats for wildlife.
- There is no cost to participate.
- How is litter disposed once it is collected?
Through the registration process, the program team will identify and coordinate garbage collection. Alternatively, self-led volunteers are welcome to take bags of garbage home for disposal as part of household curdside pick-up.
- Is registration mandatory?
Registration is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged for three reasons:
- After registration, the correct amount of garbage bags and gloves are distributed to clean up participants.
- Upon registration, organizations and groups requiring assistance with event coordination can do so with municipal staff
- Through the registration process, the program team can identify event dates and park locations requiring garbage collection.
- Who can participate in the Parks Cleanup Program?
Individuals, families, friends, elected officials, service clubs, sport leagues, faith organizations, Scouting and Guiding groups, business associations, schools and more are all welcome to participate! For safety reasons, children must be supervised by an adult.