Register your paticipation | Get your supplies | Thanks to our Sponsors

Be a Super Hero
Rid Markham of Litter
2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2009

Join the annual outdoor spring cleanup and challenge others to participate in the 20-Minute Makeover!

As part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) initiative involving municipalities, businesses and organizations, the 20-Minute Makeover asks employees, students and citizens to get outside to pick up litter around workplaces, parks, schools or neighbourhoods.

Don't forget, some litter you collect, like aluminum cans and paper products, can be recycled!

Register your participation with the Town of Markham Contact Centre at 905-415-7535 or send an email with your name, address and phone number to customerservice@markham.ca between March 16 - April 17. By registering, you will receive a litter kit that you can pick up at participating locations, and the Town will be able to send out crews to pick up the litter you've collected. Those participating at home can simply place the bagged litter out with regular household garbage or recycling on collection day. Markham will recognize all registered participants.

A Litter kit includes: one large yellow garbage bag for garbage litter, 25 small litter collection bags, 25 single gloves, and one large blue bag for recyclable litter. Litter kits can be picked up (while supplies last) at participating business and municipal buildings throughout Markham.

Town of Markham litter kit pick up locations:

• Unionville Recycling Depot, Unionville Main St (Main St at Station Lane)
• Thornhill Recycling Depot (Bayview at Green Lane)
• Markham Village Depot, 6041 Highway 7 East (@ Hwy 48)
• Milliken Mills Recycling Depot - 7600 Kennedy Rd.
• Contact Centre - Markham Civic Centre 101 Town Centre Blvd.
• Milliken Mills Community Centre - 7600 Kennedy Rd.
• Thornhill Community Centre - 7755 Bayview Ave.
• Centennial Community Centre - 8600 McCowan Rd.
• Angus Glen Community Centre - 3990 Major Mackenzie Dr.
• Armadale Community - 2401 Denison St.

Pizza Pizza litter kit pick up locations:

• 8200 Bayview Avenue @ Romfield Circuit
• 9275 Highway 48 @ 16th Avenue
• 7665 Kennedy Road @ 14th Avenue
• 4 Main Street North @ Highway 7
• 9570 McCowan Rd, South of Bur Oak Ave
• 8601 Warden Avenue @ Highway #7
• 9255 Woodbine Avenue @ 16th Avenue

Official Sponsors

The 2009 official sponsors include TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Pizza Pizza, McDonald's, Tim Horton's, The Home Depot, Toronto Star, and the Toronto Sun. Sponsors provide their support with goods, services and advertising for the event.

Litter Clean Up Tips

• Encourage your participants to wear boots and comfortable clothing suitable for the weather conditions – reflective clothing is also helpful.

• Make sure you have the supplies you need – rakes, a first aid kit, sunscreen, hat, hand sanitizer and extra garbage and grocery bags are handy to have on hand.

• Plan to work in pairs or groups with enough adult supervision - it’s safer and more fun!

• Use the small litter bags during your clean-up.  Try to keep recyclable litter seperated from non-recyclable litter. Then fill the large blue bag with the recyclable litter and the large yellow bag with garbage.

• Closely supervise the project and the participants.

• Remind all participants to be very careful around parked cars, in driveways, along roadways, shorelines and uneven ground

• Have an adult assist you if you see broken glass, or sharp objects.

• If you are cleaning around your home or business, dispose of your bags with your regular waste and recyclables collection.

• Take pictures of your clean-up!  They make great mementos, and can be submitted to the Town of Markham for possible posting on our websites! 

After you clean-up, report your findings to the Contact Centre, 415-7535, or e-mail at customerservice@markham.ca