Halifax's North End organizes outdoors spring cleaning
Spring is here and the snow is melting, but that's revealing garbage on sidewalks around Halifax. One man has organized a community clean-up in Halifax's North End for Saturday.
Kevin Payne, who lives in the Hydrostone, told CBC's Mainstreet he was disgusted with the mess around his neighbourhood after going for a bike ride.
"I got a plastic bag caught in my spokes and all that and then I come home and then you know there's a jock strap in front of my house," said Payne. "It was kind of frozen into the ice so I couldn't do anything about it just then… Something's got to give."
He says the trash dotting the streets has put a damper on "probably the most anticipated spring." Much of the responsibility to tidy up the area rests with residents, says Payne, and many have been doing a good job. But he's not going to leave it up to the city.
"The city didn't go around and litter. They don't have crews throwing wrappers around everywhere. It's all us and so we should pick it up."
The Clean Foundation and the Credit Union donated garbage bags and gloves, says Payne. Several local businesses are offering employee teams to collect garbage, as well as discounts for volunteers.
Anyone who wants to take part in the North End Community Clean Up should meet at the Grainery Food Cooperative at noon Saturday. There's a prize for the person who collects the most trash by 2 p.m.
