6 people, 5 in reflective yellow vests, 2 holding empty green garbage bags.
Rotary Club of North Muskoka members Alison (left), Nick, Suzanne, Andrew, Jim, and Stacey get ready to Team Up to Clean Up with fellow Rotarians from other clubs on May 15. Photo Credit: Rotary Club of North Muskoka
 

Rotary clubs in Huntsville have rallied together to tidy up our town.

Our Rotary Club of North Muskoka members joined Rotary Club of Huntsville Evening Satellite Club and Rotary Club of Huntsville members for Team Up to Clean Up on Sunday, May 15, 2022. Our club does a litter collection around town each year as part of its service projects for the community, and this year we opted to join forces with our fellow Rotarians from other clubs to increase impact and visibility. Thanks for the invitation, evening satellite club! Many hands make lighter work!

On the plus side, litter wasn't hiding under snow this year. The downside? Goodness, was it warm!

Rotarians spread out across the community to tackle widespread litter. Our club's members focused on the Highway 11 on- and off-ramps at Muskoka Road 3, West Road, and Highway 60. And there was plenty of work to be had. In roughly an hour and a half, members collected more than 12 bags of garbage and more than 3 bags of recycling - and that's in addition to what Rotarians from other clubs collected too. 

What did we find? Lots of disposable paper and plastic cups and lids, plus cigarette butts, cigarette lighters, plastic grocery bags, chip bags, fast food containers, pop bottles, disposable water bottles, plastic wrap from cases of disposable water bottles, pet food bags, hubcaps, beer cans and beer bottles, napkins, facial tissues, reusable cutlery, and disposable facemasks, among other items.

One member found a heap of disintegrating paperback books. Another found pieces of car floor mats. Another found a discarded toilet seat.

But several members noted that they also found wildlife burrows and even some actual wildlife - in one case a garter snake - as they removed the trash from the environment. Some spotted wildflowers and pollinators. And they also found public support.

One team on several different occasions had grateful community members and travellers honk, smile, and wave in support as Rotary completed its act of dogoodery in North Muskoka. And we are grateful too. 

A woman in a yellow reflective vest and sunglasses smiles for the camera while holding a green trash bag on a sunny day.

President Suzanne completes her tasks with style. Photo Credit: Rotary Club of North Muskoka.

A woman in a yellow reflective vest holds a green trash bag while walking on grass beside a roadway.

President Suzanne on the hunt for litter. Photo Credit: Rotary Club of North Muskoka.

A woman in a dark blue shirt with Rotary logo and man in yellow reflective vest with blue cap with Rotary logo stand by a roadway with a green trash bag.

Rotarians Alison and Andrew ready to get to work. Photo Credit: Rotary Club of North Muskoka.

A woman walks down the roadside with green trash bag in hand. back of shirt reads: Rotary at Work.

Rotarian Alison checks the banks of a ditch for litter. Photo Credit: Rotary Club of North Muskoka.

A woman frowns while crouching beside 3 bags of litter at a roadside.

Weather's hot - roadside litter is not. Photo Credit: Rotary Club of North Muskoka.

A man in a yellow reflective vest and blue hat with yellow Rotary logo stands near a roadside guardrail holding 2 bags of trash with 3 more beside him.

Rotarian Andrew ready to take out the trash ... from the environment. Photo Credit: Rotary Club of North Muskoka.