Red Deer is in for some spring cleaning.
Residents are encouraged to get involved in the annual city-wide cleanup campaign Green Deer 2017 that begins Monday and runs until June 4.
Green Deer 2017 will kick off with a free barbecue at Parkland Mall parking lot (weather permitting) from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday. Participants can pick up Green Deer garbage bags at the event.
The city is looking for volunteers from all areas of the city to help clean up. Volunteers can register at the barbecue, by calling 403-309-8411, or visiting the Recreation Centre, G.H. Dawe Community Centre or Collicutt Centre.
A Green Deer toolkit is available on the city’s website for groups that want to issue clean up challenges to other community groups. More information can be found at www.reddeer.ca/greendeer.
Every group registered is automatically entered into a draw to win a barbecue and a barbecue event.
The Cigarette Butt Awareness program will be part of the Green Deer campaign to educate people about the problems caused by cigarette butt litter. Cigarette butts, which are not biodegradable, cause a buildup of plastic filters and chemicals that is toxic to plants, water, animals and people.
Improperly disposed cigarette butts account for almost 30 per cent of litter collected by residents during the annual cleanup campaign.
To help reduce cigarette butt litter, 1,000 pocket ashtrays will be given away during Green Deer 2017.