What a summer it’s been! With the sun shining and spirits high, communities across New Brunswick rolled up their sleeves, grabbed their gloves, and got to work sprucing up their favourite outdoor spots. Thanks to Encorp’s Recycling Hero Community Cleanup Grants, schools and local groups hosted some amazing events that not only tidied up our neighbourhoods, but also championed recycling and keeping litter out of the environment. Here are the amazing groups that put the effort into cleaning up our province this summer:
- Hampton Middle School (Hampton)
- Jemseg Lions Club (Coles Island)
- Jacquet River School (Belledune)
- École Léandre-LeGresley (Grande-Anse)
- Deer Island Community School (Fairhaven)
- Centre de prévention de la violence (Sainte-Anne-de-Kent)
- Beaverbrook School (Moncton)
- Fredericton Botanic Garden Association (Fredericton)
Students Leading the Charge
First up, Hampton Middle School showed us how it’s done with a massive community-wide cleanup on June 7th. And when we say massive, we mean it! Students were all over town—cleaning up their school’s properties, Dutch Point Park, Spooner Island Trails, Main Street, the community centre, and even the curling club. Everyone got involved, with one class going the extra mile to sort out recyclables, waste, and refundable beverage containers. And what’s a good cleanup without a celebration? After all their hard work, students enjoyed snacks, prizes, and a well-deserved pat on the back. Talk about a school that knows how to turn cleaning into a team sport!
Jacquet River School, École Léandre-LeGresley, Deer Island Community School, and Beaverbrook School also jumped in on the cleanup action this summer before the school year ended, showing their commitment to keeping their communities litter-free and recycling-friendly. These schools rallied their students, teachers, and families to make a difference—turning outdoor spaces into cleaner, greener areas for everyone to enjoy. High fives all around for these students stepping up as true #RecyclingHeroes!
Community Groups Taking Action
It wasn’t just the schools making waves this summer. Many of New Brunswick’s community groups were out in full force too! Take the Jemseg Lions Club, for example. They decided to tackle the 695 Highway in Jemseg, doing a deep clean of the roadside and spreading some fun along the way with swag giveaways. The Lions Club is a real powerhouse when it comes to community service, regularly doing highway litter pickups and recycling beverage containers (and even pop tabs) to fund wheelchair purchases.
Meanwhile, the Fredericton Botanic Garden Association (FBGA) took a unique twist on their cleanup. Managing a stunning 130 hectares of botanical trails and displays, they invited volunteers to pick up litter whenever it suited them over a two-week period. This flexible approach allowed more people to get involved, especially when the temperatures were soaring on the official Cleanup Day! And wow, did it pay off—bag after bag of litter was collected, and they even turned a bunch of those littered beverage containers into nearly $200 for the garden between July 1st and August 16th. Not only did they make the garden more beautiful, but they also turned recycling into a fundraising win!
The Heart of the Cleanups: Community, Fun, and Recycling
Looking back at all these summer events, there’s a common thread that ties them all together: a whole lot of community spirit, a dash of creativity, and a big focus on recycling those beverage containers! From the all-hands-on-deck approach at Hampton Middle School to the adaptable cleanup strategy by the FBGA, each group found their unique way to make a positive impact. And they all showed that cleaning up doesn’t have to be a chore—it can be a blast!
So, what’s the big takeaway? It’s simple: everyone can be a Recycling Hero! Whether you’re a student picking up trash at school, a volunteer tidying up your local garden, or a community group hitting the highways, every effort counts. Plus, making sure refundable beverage containers in your community do not end up as litter but rather make their way to your local redemption centre for recycling really adds up—not just for the environment but also for supporting community causes.
Keep it Going!
Let’s keep this momentum rolling into fall and beyond! Keep an eye out for litter, recycle those beverage containers, and get involved in your local community cleanups. Because when it comes to making New Brunswick cleaner and greener, we’re all in this together!
A huge thank you to all the schools, organizations, and volunteers who took part this summer. Your energy, dedication, and creativity made a real difference. Keep on shining, #RecyclingHeroes! ♻️
