It's Spring Cleanup at The City of Brampton

Brampton - The City of Brampton is hosting a number of community events during the month of April as part of its Spring Cleanup program. Spearheaded by the Clean City Committee, the events are intended to engage the public in cleaning up litter in their community and increase environmental awareness and community pride.

Spring Cleanup is a month-long effort, mobilizing students from Brampton schools, community groups, residents and businesses to participate. In addition to the special cleanup day on April 19, residents are encouraged to cleanup their properties, neighbourhoods and local parks throughout the month of April. Local teenagers are invited to earn community service hours by taking part in two-hour cleanups in Brampton parks on Saturdays during the entire month of April.

This is the 11th year of Brampton's Spring Cleanup. In 2007, the month-long effort attracted more than 41,000 participants, including businesses, community groups, schools and neighbourhood groups.

The events planned for this year include:

Community Cleanup, Saturday, April 19, 9 - 11 a.m.
This a City-wide event and the public is encouraged to pick up supplies at one of four recreation centres or at Chinguacousy Park, and do their own cleanup at the location of their choice. Participating recreation centres: South Fletcher's Sportsplex, Loafer's Lake Recreation Centre, Balmoral Recreation Centre, and Brampton Soccer Centre. Staff will be on hand at each recreation centre to hand out supplies and direct cleanup efforts.

Community Environmental Fair, Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Donald M. Gordon Chinguacousy Park, ski chalet
Following the City-wide community cleanup, residents will be invited to Chinguacousy Park for a celebration and environmental fun fair. Region of Peel, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority will set up booths promoting environmental awareness. There will be food and entertainment.

Gimme 5 Challenge, Tuesday, April 22, Brampton schools
Local schools are encouraged to take part in a schoolyard cleanup, litterless lunch day or week or month, a trash audit, or other environmental initiatives designed help kids consider ways to reduce the amount of garbage they produce. (April 22 is also Earth Day)

Corporate Clean and Green Challenge, Friday, April 25
Brampton businesses throughout the City are encouraged to clean up around their property at any time of day. Businesses can do their own cleanups, or join in at the Brampton Board of Trade's cleanup event at Loafer's Lake from 2 – 4 p.m. The business that collects the most litter will win a tree planted in their honour.

Downtown Clean Sweep, Saturday, April 26, 9 - 11 a.m.
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Celebration at Duggan Park
Councillors and Brampton Downtown Development Corporation, with the help of RONA Home and Garden team, the merchants and business owners in Downtown Brampton will be sweeping up the Downtown, doing their part to keep it neat and clean. RONA will deliver brooms to a number of street front Downtown businesses. Miller Waste will also be on site to remove the debris collected. This event will be lead by City Councillors in Downtown Brampton followed by some fun at Duggan Park.

City of Brampton Cleanup
To help keep City roads clean of winter sand and debris, the City of Brampton will begin its annual spring street sweeping program mid-April, weather permitting. The City will sweep a total of 2,085 kilometres of roads with curbs and gutters. Streets without a topcoat of asphalt are exempt from this program. City-operated rural roads without curbs will be swept and/or flushed with water, and private roads remain the responsibility of the owner.

City crews will be removing winter debris from gutters, asphalt/concrete boulevards, roadway medians, sidewalks (plowed by the City during the winter), walkways, bridges and catch basins. Dirt and winter sand collected during the spring sweep will be screened free of garbage and is available to be used as clean fill for City and private construction projects this summer.

Weekend Downtown cleanups will start on the Victoria Day long weekend and end on Thanksgiving Day long weekend. This is the 2nd year of this successful initiative when the downtown core is flushed, swept and debris removed on the day preceding the first workday (i.e. Sunday during normal weekends and Monday on long weekends).

In addition, By-law Enforcement investigators will be patrolling neighbourhoods this spring and summer to help ensure that property standards are maintained. Residents who do not meet these standards may be issued orders to comply, or fined if necessary. For more information on By-law Enforcement call 905-458-3424.

For up-to-date street sweeping and road works information for City of Brampton roads, visit www.brampton.ca/roadworks, call 905-874-2500 or e-mail works@brampton.ca. For more information on regional roads visit www.peelregion.ca.