An area of West 琉璃神社 is free of garbage and other debris today after a group volunteers gathered for a cleanup blitz Saturday on Bartley Road.

A number of groups and organizations, along with local residents targeted the McDougall Rim Forestry Trails, a popular recreation corridor, to kick off Community Clean Up Month.

The clean-up kickoff event is an annual event, organized in a new location each year by the Regional District Waste Reduction office.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a chronic illegal dump spot, so we鈥檝e got volunteers rolling up their sleeves and tackling the mess,鈥� said waste reduction facilitator Rae Stewart.

鈥淲e鈥檙e hauling garbage out of the bush today as much as we can, recycling as much it is as possible. It鈥檚 just a huge outpouring of community pride and spirit, and hats off to the volunteers for showing up today to do this.鈥�

Saturday鈥檚 cleanup crew included more than 50 volunteers from Shaw, a handful of local residents from the area, as well as dozens of members on the Okanagan Forestry Task Force.

Every spring it offers bags and gloves cleanups ups, plus will pick up the garbage collected when people are done with cleanup project.

Community cleanup has been held every April for over 20 years, and is used to highlight the problem of illegal dumping plus act as a springboard for positive clean up initiatives for groups or individuals.

Dumpster services for the day were provided free of charge by The Dump Truck and ABC Recycling is assisting with metal recycling of some burned out hulks left behind in the bush.

To arrange your own 20 Minute Make Over or Community Clean Up event, get free litter bags and gloves, and arrange to have the garbage you collect picked up when you鈥檙e done, contact the Regional Waste Reduction Office at 250-469-6250 or send an email.