This page
will list comments and stories from city residents
about the TimminsGetClean campaign.
We’d like to hear from you. Email your comments and stories here.
October 29, 2007: Rick & Debbie.
I have to congratulate both of you on this wonderful effort you have
put forward. I've noticed a remarkable difference in how our city looks
and others have noticed too.
I think attitudes are changing in this city.
Living in Melrose, it's nice to see a difference after the last
cleanup for 2007.
As you know, I've been to some of your cleanups in support of this
venture. I'm astonished at the amount of litter your volunteers have
picked up. By looking at some of the litter, it\'s not hard to figure out
who is littering.
It seems that people of all ages litter, but I must say the worse are
some of those who smoke and probably some of the younger generation.
Around convenience stores, there\'s tons of garbage that gets blown
around. Including numerous cigarette packages, "frosty" type containers,
ice cream and chocolate bar wrappers etc. And with people not allowed
to smoke in public buildings, the number of cigarette butts on the
ground will most likely increase.
Infact, when cleaning up near T&S Variety on Spruce South, there was a
few cigarette butts around the property, but there was very little
litter on the store property itself
However, across from the store was a different store.
In September myself and another volunteer picked up at least three
large garbage bags of litter. This garbage got stuck in the tall grasses
around that corner and also against the fence of the industrial area
around there.
One person even left his dog feces in a bag hanging on a tree.
One thing I\'ve noticed too, is in places where people get recreation,
like tennis courts, baseball parks or walking trails there's empty
plastic and glass bottles strewn all over the place. It's ironic these
people take the time to get exercise but can't go put the bottle in the
garbage can sitting not 30 meters away.
Helping keep the city cleaner is as easy as holding on to the bottle or
package til you get near a garbage can or take it home.
Now of course, with winter around the corner, I\'m hoping residents
will think twice about littering.
I ask them to think how tough it is for a volunteer to spend two and a
half hours once a month to pick up after you. I can attest that it's
not easy work, it's a good workout.
One interesting story was when I was dropping off my four year old
step-daughter at school one day last winter. It had snowed the night
before and the streets were freshly plowed.
She had a snack in the car and wanted to throw her wrapper on the road.
I explained to her, it's not nice to just throw garbage on the
ground, it should be put in a garbage can. If it's on the ground, it\'s
going to look dirty.
She looked at the freshly plowed street and said "I can throw it on
the road, he plow's going to pick it up."
We have a long winter ahead of us. People, think twice before
littering.
Rick and Deb, congratulations on caring so much about our community. I
look forward to support you both at cleanups during 2008.
Barry G.
October 22. 2007 - Timmins Daily Press
Get Clean year round
Five special events and 7,392 bags of collected litter later, it is apparent that the majority of people in the city still just don't get it.
TimminsGetClean founder Rick Cecconi held his final cleanup effort of the year on the weekend, filling another 635 grocery bags of thoughtlessly discarded trash.
Since June, Cecconi's cleanups have been a monthly affair. While he vows to keep his campaign going, the next event won't be held again until spring - as winter weather is about to set into the area.
Cecconi deserves praise for both his civic pride and the effort involved in organizing the campaign. Still, it must be frustrating to keep organizing the cleanups only to see fresh litter move into targeted areas on a daily basis.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to eliminate litter: Just stop throwing garbage on the street. Use whatever garbage cans are available or hang onto it until you get home.
Timmins Coun. Steve Adams, a regular volunteer at the cleanups, summed up the situation well.
"I can't understand why people continue to dump garbage in these lots," he said.
The best Christmas present for Cecconi and company would be having residents get the message.
However, we suspect there are enough garbage Grinches that will make a major cleanup vital come spring.
October 02, 2007 - anonymous email to TimminsGetclean
I had the opportunity to take part in the clean up on Sun. Sept 23/07.
I was totally amazed at how precisely organized this event was! Amazing job!
One that has been taken very seriously in many ways!
After looking through the website I feel that there is no excuse for this behavior!
One thing that I think will really benefit this cause is to be in the schools and educating the children, just as you have begun to do.
Growing up in northern Manitoba , we had a presentation in grade five, which would have been in the 70’s, on the effects of littering.
They showed actual pictures of problem areas, waterways and endangered wildlife, a dead duck with
a plastic six-pack ring, wrapped around its body. This presentation had such a powerful effect on my life!
I believe that it is of great importance to educate the children!
I could never express my gratitude enough to Rick and Debbie for undertaking this enormous problem,
As well to all those who are working along side of them!
One way that I will express my gratitude is I will be doing my part!
Sept 26, 2007 - anonymous email to TimminsGetclean
Wow!!! Awesome Job Rick & Debbie along with those who help organize and contribute to this worthwhile challenge!!
I can honestly say, there is a remarkable difference! Although there is much to be done! You should consider
adding a page for “ Dead Beat ~ Litterbugs/Dumpers”, in the same way they have websites for Dead Beat Dads!
People could post descriptions of vehicles / even license plate numbers of these offenders, or addresses of these people.
There is absolutely no excuse for this behavior!
Sept 21, 2007 - Pekka Tuohimaa
All summer I have been walking around the MRCA trail around Porcupine lake and like you and your wife, the sight of trash left by others was really bothersome to me. After reading about your website in the press and on T.V., I decided one day in june to pickup all this trash and now I devote 2 days a week in keeping up with the litter.
The vegetation is beginning to die off now with the change of seasons so I"m finding more trash farther in the bush.
I carry extra bags in my camera bag so when I see more I just pick it up. The worst trash seems to be water bottles, Tim Horton cups and cigarette butts. I,v picked up in total about 35 bags along with the 1 this morning. Thanks
Yours Truly, Pekka Tuohimaa
“ Lets Set An Example For Others” August 29, 2007 - emailed to TimminsGetClean.com
I read the updates on your clean up and I was happy to hear that our local students may get on board with the clean up efforts. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the last clean up due to our family vacation but I have to say I did have the clean up on my mind. Two weekends ago my daughter and I were fishing at Sandy Falls by the boat launch taking in the beautiful day. As we sat on the rocks, I looked around in disgust. Garbage was everywhere and broken glass all over the ground. I got so upset that I reeled in my line and put it aside. I went to my car trunk where I always have some garbage bags handy. My daughter and I picked up 3 large garbage bags full of everything and anything. I could have picked up more further down the road but I hardly had room to fit in my daughter in the car after putting in those bags. My daughter felt so good about our little clean up job. The irony was that as we were picking up, I saw a young man throw his pickerel rig bag in the water. My daughter even said "hey why are you littering the nice water?" He looked embarrassed as she laid on the rock and stretched her arms in the water to pick it up. Another man thanked us and said he was happy to see that someone cared enough. I told him that if everyone cared enough we would be able to come fishing here and not worry that our children might get cut by broken glass, or that the water is polluted. We talked loudly enough about the benefits of not littering and others were obviously listening. The whole area was packed full of people watching us as we filled our bags. As my daughter said " Lets set an example for others!" Children are our future and hopefully the schools will get involved in a big way! Good luck and I shall see you at the next clean up.
Reduction Of Litter
Just had to pass on my pleasure at noticing a reduction of litter in my neighborhood in Melrose.
I left home yesterday armed with my typical garbage bag and disposable plastic gloves to pick up litter en route to IGA through the park at Suzanne and Lonergan. I just couldn't believe it !!! There wasn't a speck of litter en route to the park and not a speck around the nearby bus shelter (there are usually at least several empty water bottles). My shock continued as I walked through the park and found only one Mac Frosty container and straw (are they ever Huge !!).
I used to clean up en route to groceries and by the time I walked home there were already new pieces of litter. That was not the case this time.
It seems the level of consciousness is changing regarding littering. I do believe TimminsGetClean is making a difference.
I extend my Congratulations and Appreciation for that, Rick and Debbie,and for your column in The Daily Press, Rick. Sincerely, Debbie Pell