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Welcome!
Litter Free Thunder Bay Overview
Litter Free Thunder Bay takes great pride in the beauty of our community - and keeping it litter free. We also believe that litter has a very negative impact on Thunder Bay's economy and quality of life.
Scattered litter is only too apparent in our community but simply cleaning up is not the answer. Clean-ups serve as an enabling mechanism for those who litter. Rather than cleaning up, our focus is prevention. In other words, "Don't toss litter in the first place."
Litter Free Thunder Bay is striving to create a "litter consciousness" through public education. Our goal is to change the attitudes and behaviours of those who litter.
We are also interested in practical steps being taken to reduce litter, like more and better-managed trashcans. We would like to engage citizens and businesses alike in implementing concrete litter reduction measures.
If you take pride in the beauty of our community, you are interested in a more meaningful approach, and you are willing to take action - please join us in making Thunder Bay litter free.
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This is a picture of a bus shelter near the corner of Victoria and Edward. Note the new, durable, in-ground, litter receptacle installed by the City of Thunder Bay Transit Department. Litter Free Thunder Bay and City officials field dozens of calls each year about undue litter at transit stops. Previously, no transit stops in the city had receptacles. Since 2007, approximately 90 receptacles have been installed at bus stops across the city. Waste bins have also been installed on all City buses. |
Abandoned shopping carts are a real eyesore on our city streets. They cost local businesses (and in turn you and I) thousands of dollars to repair and replace. They can also be dangerous to drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and snow removal machines. It is illegal to remove shopping carts from store property.
Check out Cart Blanche, an article in the Ontario Good Roads Association Milestones magazine about abandoned shopping carts and what different cities are doing to address them, including Thunder Bay!
- We have a new and improved shopping cart reporting program. TO REPORT AN ABANDONED SHOPPING CART THAT YOU'VE NOTICED WHILE TRAVELLING AROUND THUNDER BAY, PLEASE CLICK HERE. [Note: The password request is optional, however it allows you to go back and change the report if you have made an error, or if the cart has moved. You may use the same password (initials are easy to remember) for all reports.]
- It is not necessary to report Wal-Mart and Shoppers Drug Mart carts found along Memorial or Fort William Road, as they are automatically picked up on a regular basis.
- While we realize it isn't always possible, the system will work best if you can identify the type of cart. If not, even a colour like "blue", "red" or "silver" for example, would be helpful for retailers trying to identify their carts from the list.
- Local shopping outlets have been made aware that abandoned carts are posted regularly on this site.
- First time reporting a shopping cart? Check here for some reporting tips. Carts may also be reported by calling 2-1-1.
- ATTENTION STORE MANAGERS AND CART COLLECTORS! WE HAVE A NEW AND UPDATED SHOPPING CART COLLECTION PROGRAM. Please contact Karen at 624-2148 for a user name and password. This will allow you to edit the status of the listing (i.e. mark that the cart has been retrieved). In the interim you may also view the new listing at the link above (under "to report a cart..." without editing capabilities). All reports will be sent instantly to this site. FOR A LISTING OF RECENTLY REPORTED ABANDONED SHOPPING CARTS (username and password required)- CLICK HERE.
- Litter Free Thunder Bay is a volunteer organization comprised of regular citizens like yourself. These citizens and Litter Free Thunder Bay do not pick up abandoned carts, retailers and their contractors do.
IF YOU NOTICE THAT THE CARTS YOU ARE REPORTING ARE NOT BEING PICKED UP PLEASE CALL THE RETAIL OUTLET INVOLVED Politely ask them to pick up the abandoned cart(s) you have reported and to please check litterfree.ca on an ongoing basis. If they continue to get calls, about this site and about abandoned carts, they will be more likely to react. Litter Free Thunder Bay appreciates the input and participation of all retailers who are kindly co-operating to make this system work.
- Thank you very much for helping to make a cleaner city
CHECK OUT LITTER FREE THUNDER BAY'S POSTER
Click here to access the Litter Free Thunder Bay poster. Litter Free Thunder Bay would like to thank the City of Thunder Bay for their co-operation in poster production.
The photo in the poster of the Sleeping Giant, by nationally recognized photographer Lori Fox Rossi of Thunder Bay, is exceptional. Truly, our city has a beautiful setting and Thunder Bay residents have a deep passion for this beautiful setting.
Litter Free Thunder Bay's poster also displays a vivid contrast. The smaller photos tell us what it is like on the street in many areas of our city. These are real photographs - not retouched, not outstanding, just an assortment of photos which could be taken any day in our city - every day. Some of them were taken within feet of large retail businesses, some were taken in the intercity area, some were taken near schools. They come from across the city. Some of the photos suggest that steps can be taken to prevent litter.
Few things diminish the beauty of Thunder Bay more than scattered litter. Sadly, it's not just the destruction of our community's beauty which is at stake. Litter impacts property values; invites vandalism and theft; creates a breeding ground for fire and disease; injures pets; impacts insurance rates; creates safety hazards, and costs taxpayers money to clean up. Surprisingly, many of us are so used to litter that we don't even notice it.
Litter Free Thunder Bay encourages local residents to take action to prevent litter, before it detracts from our city's appearance and economy. Start at home. Keep yards, schools and businesses litter free. If you visit an organization which lacks proper prevention facilities for litter and cigarette butts make it a point to mention it to management. Spread the word - help Litter Free Thunder Bay to change behaviours by encouraging a "litter consciousness" amongst family, friends, fellow students, employees and business contacts.
Lori Fox-Rossi's photo makes it easy to understand the passion many residents feel for Thunder Bay's setting. The photo clearly presents our city's potential. A clean city is the foundation for our city's potential. Let's take meaningful pride in our city, in all our varied walks of life, by stopping litter before it hits the ground. Join the positive movement for a litter free Thunder Bay. Find more beautiful photos from Lori Fox-Rossi by clicking here.
LITTER IS AN ISSUE ACROSS CANADA -
COSTS ARE HUGE - USING YOUR TAX DOLLARS - TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
GO TO THE LITTER FREE FORUM AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT LITTER FROM ACROSS CANADA ...AND BEYOND
OR...CLICK HERE
Littering is Against the Law!
Want to report an instance of littering or illegal dumping? At a miniumum you will need the following:
- Positive identification of the individual or organization responsible for littering (identification of a person not a vehicle)
- Proof of the littering
- A commitment to see the case through to its conclusion.
- Offenders receive a written warning. Most offences are cleaned up or otherwise rectified at this point. If charges are necessary, you may need to appear in court.
Call the City of Thunder Bay By-law enforcement office at 625-2710 to report littering and illegal dumping.
Are you concerned About Litter On A Particular Road?
Want To Help?
Get involved in the "Adopt-a-Road" Program
Make this the year you sign up to clean a neighbourhood road and have some fun with friends and neighbours two times a year. Safety gear and bags are provided. Please call Mike Miron, Roads Division, at 474-4803 and ask how you can help.
Click here to view or download a copy of our Activity Book for school kids which was developed through the generous co-operation of Leadership Thunder Bay. You are most welcome to print and use the activity book.
Visit our forum, take out a membership (for a
nominal fee) or contact us. /public_html/cart_tracker
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