Its warm weather time which means more litter to clean up in our community.

Teams of residents have been working hard to do their part in cleaning up cigarette butts, pieces of plastic, including tons of coffee cups and other litter which is an eyesore for many.

New Toronto realtor Trish Buchanan and neighbour Carol Cormier are finishing up a 30-day litter clean up challenge targeting lakefront parks and green spaces.

They regularly take plastic bags and would spend up to two hours several times weekly picking up litter at Samuel Smith Park, Cliff Lumsdon Park, Prince of Wales Park and sometimes Marie Curtis Park.

“We have spent weeks working on Sam Smith Park because it is the largest,” says Buchanan. “Prince of Wales on Second Street is the worst because it is constant due to the parking lot.”

She says they also pick up bags of litter from other areas, which are usually cleaned by the City but that service has been reduced due to COVID-19.

“People still toss out their garbage in this day and age,” she explains. “This practice has to stop.”

Buchanan says everyone is welcome to join, all they need is some plastic bags, gloves and find an area which requires cleaning.

“We usually take out six or eight bags of litter every time we come here,” she says. “I spend a lot of time climbing over the rocks pulling out the garbage stuck inside.”

Cormier says the activity keeps them both in shape and spending quality time outside.

Residents of Humber Bay Shores have also been meeting every Sunday morning at 9 a.m. to clean up their area, which includes the tracks and trails. They usually meet near the Eden Trattoria restaurant.

They will be there on June 7 if you want to join them to clean up the area. Volunteers are required.