Sweeping beaches of butts and other trash is a Canada-wide craze that washes ashore twice a year.
“The biggest thing we find is cigarette butts and then recyclables,” said Corey Burger a director with the Community Association of Oak Bay. It’s the third year the group is sponsoring a pick up day, this year moving from Willows to McNeill Bay beach. Previous years netted about 100 pounds of garbage.
“This is one little easy-to-clean beach in Oak Bay,” Burger said. Shorelines up and down the coast will become litter free during the national Shoreline Cleanup initiative Sept. 15 through 23.
“This is a very well used beach and it’s about keeping the community clean so people will keep using it,” Burger said. “Hopefully awareness grows about the garbage problem and people change their habits.”
About a dozen folk usually show up for the clean up. This year they’re cleaning McNeill Bay and everyone’s welcome. Burger suggests bringing good gloves, footwear and garbage bags.
The community association hosts its Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup on Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. at McNeil Bay on Beach Drive.
Visit shorelinecleanup.ca to find other events around the Island.