The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced today a new initiative led by the Multi-Material Stewardship Board (MMSB) to help cleanup litter across Newfoundland and Labrador in preparation for Come Home Year 2022. Minister Davis was joined by the Honourable Steve Crocker Minister of Tourism Culture, Arts and Recreation, Derm Flynn, Chair, MMSB Board of Directors; and Karen Hickman, Executive Director, Clean St. John’s for the announcement.
MMSB’s Come Home Year Community Cleanup Project is a funding initiative to support the cleanup of litter or improperly disposed bulk items in areas such as roadsides, trails, beaches, parks, and outdoor recreational spaces. Funding is available to municipalities, local service districts, Indigenous community governments and organizations and non-profit/community organizations.
Grants of up to $5,000 will be available, with maximum amounts being awarded based on community population or project scope for not-for-profit/community organizations. Applications for the Come Home Year Community Cleanup project will be accepted until March 7, 2022. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2022. Program details and applications are available here.
Cleanups play an important role in managing litter in the province. In 2021, MMSB conducted a province wide litter audit to audit to assess the abundance and composition of litter in Newfoundland and Labrador. The audit found 27,475 pieces of litter on the 14 kilometres of road audited. When extrapolating to the entire road network in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is estimated that close to 74 million pieces of litter exist on the province’s roadways.
Quotes
“The Come Home Year Community Cleanup Project will have a positive impact in protecting our environment and supporting people in our communities as we look towards welcoming home family and friends to celebrate. Every piece of litter begins in the hands of someone, and this project will help divert waste from our trails, parks and roads and keep our communities clean.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister Responsible for the MMSB
“What better time to initiate a province-wide cleanup initiative than during Come Home Year 2022? This is a prime opportunity for municipalities and community groups alike to apply for funding to get their spaces in tip-top shape for company coming. I extend my gratitude to the MMSB and to Minister Davis for their efforts in putting this program together.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism Culture, Arts and Recreation
“Cleanups play an important role in managing litter and keeping our province healthy and beautiful. Based on the data from the 2021 Roadside Litter Audit, there is about 143 pieces of litter on our roadsides alone for every Newfoundlander and Labradorian in the province. We all have a role to play, which is why it is important to find ways to work together in helping reduce, prevent and manage littler. MMSB is proud to support and partner with communities and non-profit organizations to help clean up our province.”
Derm Flynn
Chair of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board
“Clean St. John’s has always taken a grassroots approach to inspire pride and action to create a clean and beautiful community. We recognize the importance of volunteer-based and community-run litter cleanups and encourage municipalities and towns throughout the province to do their part to help reduce litter and beautify our home.”
Karen Hickman
Executive Director of Clean St. John’s
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Learn more
Come Home Year Community Cleanup
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Media contacts
Lynn Robinson
Environment and Climate Change
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca
Adrienne Luther
Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
709-729-4819, 730-2953
adrienneluther@gov.nl.ca
Jackie O’Brien
Multi-Materials Stewardship Board
709-682-6657
jorbien@mmsb.nl.ca