“Keep The Bruce Trail Clean & Green” community science program will return to the Bruce Trail this year – with a new name, “Hike It! Love It! Keep It Clean!”

This community science pilot project was initially developed through local collaboration among A Greener Future, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Bruce Trail Conservancy, Keep The Bruce Clean & Green, Ontario Parks (MacGregor Point), Owen Sound Waste Watchers, and Peninsula Bruce Trail Club, with additional support from the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula and Fitz Hostel.

Volunteer community scientists collected litter, recorded and submitted litter characterizations from the Bruce Trail and trail access hot spots for the entire summer through individual and group litter cleanup events.

Project goals: 1. Improving the cleanliness of the trail by picking up litter

2. Learning more about the types of litter found on the trail and trail access “hotspots”

3. Increasing awareness of the impact of litter on natural areas and the importance of ‘leave no trace’ principles

Litter clean-ups were supported with interpretive c hikes, group event displays, Trash Talk Cafes (group conversation after the cleanups) and a fireside chat with Rochelle Byrne from A Greener Future, at Summerhouse Park.

Results from “Keep The Bruce Trail Clean & Green” indicate the top identifiable littered item (29%) on the Peninsula section of the Bruce  Trail was cigarette butts and smoking related items followed closely by food and beverage litter (23%) such as cans, plastic cups, straws, bottles and utensils.
More than 73% of litter collected was made from plastic or  plastic components.

Based on the experience of community science volunteers and data analysis, Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) will expand the program to include the entire Bruce Trail from Queenston to Tobermory – calling it, “Hike It! Love It! Keep It Clean!”

The Peninsula Bruce Trail Club is one of nine BTC Clubs. Utilizing only volunteers – PBTC stewards almost 4000 acres of land along the Niagara Escarpment on the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula and approximately 167 km of main hiking trail with many more kilometres of side trails – from Wiarton to Tobermory. Join PBTC as a Volunteer Litter Ambassador.

A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers and community partners!

For more project information or to learn how you can become a PBTC Volunteer Litter Ambassador, contact Marg Glendon at: [email protected].

Submitted by: Peninsula Bruce Trail Club