Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland held his “Keep the County Clean” challenge with the help of approximately 100 people in the community on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
Starting at noon on Sunday, participants collected their supplies including gloves, pickers and garbage bags and went on a mission looking for garbage in three areas throughout the town including along the lakeshore/marina, downtown and other areas.
Groups who were also participating were members of the Cobourg Police, Cobourg Fire Department, 598 Sabre Squadron, Lions Club, One World, Sustainable Cobourg and A Greener Future which sorted out the garbage collected along the lakeshore area.
“It was an incredible turnout,” said Cleveland stopping for a moment while cleaning the area around the Market Square with his son.
“The community showed up – thank you. This is what we need to start doing day after day, year after year – coming together to make our community a better place – on cigarette butt at a time, one piece of garbage at a time.”
On Monday, A Greener Future finished off sorting the garbage. Among the items collected by volunteers were approximately 10,000 cigarette butts, and two syringes, picked up just along the lakeshore area.
Cleveland said 90% of the trash being picked up in the downtown core is discarded cigarette butts.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
