COVID-19 has presented a lot of challenges in Prince Albert, but it hasn’t damped the enthusiasm for the annual community clean-up.
First started by Coun. Charlene Miller as the Ward 2 clean-up, the annual event has expanded across the City in recent years, and now includes Wards 2, 3, 4 and 7.
“Everybody wanted to participate this year and a few more wards came on board,” Miller said during an interview on Tuesday. “We’re glad to see everybody’s a willing participant in the community clean-up.”
Tuesday marked the second day of the community clean-up, and Miller said they were hauling away a normal amount of garbage and yard waste, which shows residents are still happy to support the cause. Miller said she wasn’t by that, since most of them are eager for any chance to get outdoors.
“We’re still in a lockdown situation, and last year was the same way, so it’s been very good,” Miller said with a chuckle on Tuesday. “It’s very nice to see everybody come out to support their community clean-up and clean out their yards.”
Residents themselves were happy for the opportunity to speed up the spring cleaning process. Carrie Good and Bernard Peterson both stopped at the Ward 4 drop off to unload a mini-van full of garbage gathered during the day. They said it makes it easier for residents to brighten up their yards, since not everyone can afford multiple trips to the City dump.
“This is really good,” Good said with a chuckle. “It will save a lot of people a lot of money.”
The annual community clean-up continues on Friday and Saturday. The four drop off points are the St. Michael’s Church parking lot in the West Flat, the East End Rink, the East Hill Rink, and the corner of 10th Street and Sixth Avenue East. Only the St. Michael’s Church parking lot and Sixth Avenue East locations will be open for drop offs on Saturday.
Residents are encouraged to bring leaves and grass, household garbage, metals, electronics, cardboard and bottle recycling. Appliances, tires and hazardous waste will not be accepted.