Non-profit organizations looking for a little extra pocket change will soon have the opportunity to pick up a bag and get to work.
The MD of Bonnyville is getting ready to kick-off their annual roadside cleanup program, and with hundreds of kilometres of highways to clean, there’s no shortage of work to be done.
Matt Janz, director of agriculture and waste services for the MD of Bonnyville, explained the cost of the program and its benefits during council’s regular meeting on Wednesday, March 14.
For every kilometre a community organization cleans, they will receive $40 to $100, depending on the road, from the MD of Bonnyville as thanks.
“It’s a great program. It’s a benefit to us, and a benefit to community groups who are looking for money for their various programs,” expressed Janz.
The MD is expecting to have groups hitting the highways starting April 1, but whether or not the area gets another snowfall is a determining factor.
But for now, Janz is looking for organizations interested in lending a hand. Last year, they had 20 groups take part in the clean up.
So far, 12 have stepped up to the challenge and signed up for the job. The MD is encouraging any non-profit community groups wanting to help to give their agriculture and waste department a call.
Janz said, their rate is on par, if not better than, the one offered by the province for cleaning their highways.
“It’s about the same rate as what the province pays for their provincial highways. The difference is, our right of ways are much smaller. We are very competitive, if not more than, what the province will pay.”
The first year, the MD paid out $5,000 to local organizations through the roadside cleanup program. Last year that number jumped to $26,000, thanks to increased interest.
The downfall of the provincial cleanup program is the province selects one day to get the job done. If an organization is unavailable, they miss out.
Janz also noted, they put a limit of $1,000 on one group as well.
“Our program is more flexible. Groups can do it on a weekday, weekend, and we have even had it where they have had to go somewhere so they have split it up over two days,” explained Janz. “We’re much more flexible.”
The MD can also increase the rate based on where the cleanup is being done.
Janz used the Ardmore landfill as an example. Because the MD knows it’s an area more prone to garbage, they will give the group a bit of an increase in their per kilometre rate.
MD Reeve Greg Sawchuk said the program is a great opportunity for kids to learn about the impacts of littering.
“It’s very educational for the kids,” he said.
Janz agreed, “I think it makes the kids think… They really start to think twice if they have to throw something out… Hopefully we’re teaching the next generation that it’s unacceptable to throw litter on the ground.”
