Residents are encouraged to participate in Green Deer 2012, an annual City clean-up that runs until June 17th.
“Every year, Green Deer positively impacts the look of our City,” said Suzanne Jubb, community & program facilitator. “When winter melts away, trash and litter are exposed. Green Deer helps to keep our community beautiful and enjoyable for everyone.”
Green Deer keeps Red Deer beautiful, and it also brings people together. The campaign which started on Monday offers a chance for neighbours, friends and coworkers to work together, challenge each other and show their commitment to the environment.
“When we all work together and take small steps to keep our city clean, it can have a huge impact,” said Jubb. “We challenge Red Deerians to leave it better than they found it by taking a garbage bag and a cleaning glove with them when they go for walks. This is an easy way to be proactive in keeping our neighbourhoods beautiful.”
This year, the Green Deer campaign will include the new Cigarette Butt Awareness Program, which will educate the public that even small amounts of litter can impact the environment.
“Many people don’t realize that cigarette butts do not disappear, and they are not biodegradable,” said Jubb. “In fact, the buildup of plastic filters and chemicals from cigarette butts is toxic to the animals, plants, and water around us.”
To help reduce cigarette butt litter, 1,000 pocket ashtrays will be given away throughout the Green Deer campaign.
People can register by calling 403-309-8411 or visiting the Recreation Centre, G.H. Dawe Community Centre or Collicutt Centre. Every group registered is automatically entered into a draw to win a barbeque event. A Green Deer toolkit is available on the City’s web site for groups wishing to issue clean-up challenges to other community groups.
Green Deer 2012 partners are Save-On Foods, Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, KG Country/Z99, Community Care, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Century Vallen, Waste Management of Canada and the City of Red Deer.
For more information on the Green Deer campaign, including the new Cigarette Butt Awareness Program, call 403-309-8411 or visit www.reddeer.ca/greendeer.
– Fawcett
