Keep Ajax Clean & Green

What is litter?

Litter is simply waste that is not disposed of properly: when a coffee cup is put in a trash bin, it is garbage; when it is tossed on the ground, it is litter. Litter can include the following, plus much more:

• coffee cups,
• gum and candy wrappers,
• cigarette butts and packaging,
• soda cans and cups.

Our Anti-Litter Strategy

Goals of the Anti-Litter Strategy:

1. To raise awareness about litter and its negative effects on the Town of Ajax, including harm to civic pride, environmental impacts and costs of cleanup.
2. To reduce litter through education, maintenance and enforcement.
3. To collect statistics to allow future monitoring of the degree of littering in Town.

Maintenance and Enforcement: 

Increase the ‘eyes on the street'
A certain number of staff and contractors from Ajax Operations and Environmental Services Department are responsible for litter pickup, but there are many other staff members out on the roads and in the parks every day: other Operations staff, By-law Officers, Recreation staff, etc. They are all encouraged to report problem areas to Operations and By-law Services for appropriate action. Staff are asked to take pride in the cleanliness of their Town, and take responsibility for reporting problems.
 
Dedicated litter patrols
Boulevard and park litter pickups are done every 14 days throughout the spring, summer and fall. During the summer, trash bins in parks are emptied regularly. Sports fields receive attention on a weekly basis. Litter and garbage bins receive special attention during events such as Home Week, sports tournaments and community events, providing Operations and Environmental Services is aware of the events. When staff are available, periodic additional pickups are done throughout the year. Certain areas receive attention almost daily.
 
Clearly, it would take a significant amount of additional money to add to our staff so that every piece of litter is picked up quickly; the Town could spend many thousands more every year on this effort. It is much less costly if everyone takes responsibility and stops litter from happening in the first place!
 
Trash bin placement and emptying
We monitor the use of trash cans, and during the peak spring, summer and fall months, empty them regularly. We remove cans that aren't needed. Since research shows an increase in the number of cans is not always effective, we choose strategic areas and attempt to place them where they will do the most good.
 
Contact with property owners
Owners of private property (including malls, homes, businesses and vacant lots) identified as having a litter problem are approached by By-law Services and given the opportunity to clean up. If they do not the Town may do the clean-up and charge the owner with the costs.
 
Last resort - laying charges
When other efforts fail, owners of private property and even agencies such as school boards can be charged under the Property Standards Act, the Dumping by-law and/or the Grounds, Yards and Vacant Lot by-law, and taken to court. 

Partnerships

Environmental programs
Along with the anti-litter strategy, Ajax has several other initiatives that can be related to litter. For example:

• The Town's mascot, Duffy the Duck, gives an environmental message wherever he goes - this includes a ‘pick up your litter' message when appropriate.
• The adopt-an-area program is promoted during Ajax Green Living Days in April/May. Any interested group can contact Ajax Operations and Environmental Services to get involved.

Recreation/sports and park user groups
Sports groups and groups that use Town parks and parking lots receive permits for their events. The permits will include an expectation that fields be left tidy. If not, a permit may be revoked, or a group may be refused a permit in future. We'll supply adequate trash cans and bags for group events.
 
Agencies
Numerous agencies, such as the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, CN Rail, Ministry of Transportation (regarding highway property), Canada Post, school boards and others, can be involved in our anti-litter initiatives. 

Community Involvement

Schools
Elementary schools can invite Duffy to their events to help spread an environmental message. Ajax Operations and Environmental Services can help out with cleanup days.
 
Community groups
Community groups are asked to consider adopting a park or green space on an ongoing basis, and getting together a few times a year to do litter pickups. Register the effort ahead of time with Ajax Operations and Environmental Services, and we will provide gloves and garbage bags, and pickup the bags afterward. If your group has other ideas on how you can help, we'd love to hear from you!
 
Businesses
We'll be developing a specific anti-litter initiative with businesses. In the meantime, those identified as a problem will be approached by By-law Services and given the opportunity to clean up. If they do not, charges may be laid. 
 
What you can do
The most important thing you can do is to not litter. Carry your trash with you until you can put it in a garbage bin. Teach children the importance of caring for our environment. Set a good example, and encourage children to set a good example for their friends. When you walk your dog, be sure to have some plastic bags with you so you can clean up after your pet; be sure to dispose of the bag properly. 

Promotion

We promote all of our anti-litter activities through local media and our website, including special events. There's a specific page on the website for children. Promotion is also done through our weekly Community Page in the News Advertiser, our Recreation Services booklet, and through signage. 

Fines

Currently, owners of littered property are approached and asked to clean up the area. If they refuse to do so, they may be fined by Ajax By-law Services. Also, after a warning and period in which to comply, the Town will send in a crew to clean up litter and charge it to the property owner. 

Contact Information

For general information or to register a cleanup call Operations and Environmental Services at 905-683-2951 or  to report a severe litter problem on private property, call By-law Services at 905-619-2529, ext. 344.