Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment Chester Gillan marked World Environment Day today by announcing a new litter awareness campaign to reduce litter on Island roadsides, shorelines and trails.
The campaign will encourage Islanders and visitors to "Keep the Island clean. Put litter in its place."
"Litter not only spoils the natural beauty of Prince Edward Island, it poses a risk to public health and can harm the environment," said Minister Gillan. "We want to change attitudes by raising awareness of the negative impacts and social unacceptability of littering, and the simple fact that littering is a crime."
A Litter Awareness Committee was formed in March to identify strategies to address concerns about litter. The committee includes representatives from various industry sectors such as tourism, restaurants, manufacturing, grocery retailers and construction. Other members include the Federation of PEI Municipalities, Island Waste Management Corporation, Tourism PEI, the PEI Liquor Control Commission, and the Federated Women's Institute of Prince Edward Island, which has long been dedicated to keeping the province clean through its annual roadside cleanup and other educational programs.
Minister Gillan said the Litter Awareness Committee has recommended a comprehensive campaign focussing on three key areas: public awareness, community involvement and enhanced enforcement. During the initial phase of the campaign, initiatives will include:
• Establishing a toll-free number for Islanders to call to access resources or report incidents of littering.
• Developing and distributing promotional materials and educational resources to inform residents and visitors of the negative impacts of littering.
• An extensive media campaign to raise awareness.
• Providing all law enforcement agencies in PEI with information on the tools available to respond to various types of littering.
• A litter blitz in the fall of 2002 in which a broad cross section of groups will be invited to host litter awareness activities across the province.
Minister Gillan said the partnerships with industry, community groups and municipalities will be the key to a successful long-term litter awareness campaign.
"We will be working with many groups over the next several months to identify ways they can help deliver the message that littering is unacceptable," he said.
For instance, the Minister suggested some businesses might display the campaign logo in drive-thru windows to remind customers to put litter in its place; others could include a litter education component in staff orientation; organizers of community festivals could pledge to make their event litter-free; trucking companies could inform drivers to ensure all loads are tarped or covered; and a sports league could send letters to all members, reminding them to keep sports fields and recreational facilities clean.
"Islanders can support the litter awareness campaign in a variety of ways," said Minister Gillan. "Today marks the starting point. The campaign will evolve over the coming months as we ask all Island residents and businesses to consider how they can help put litter in its place."
Minister Gillan officially kicked off the campaign by signing the Keep the Island Clean Pledge and inviting others at the launch to do the same. The pledge encourages individuals to take responsibility for littering by promising to keep the Island clean, to spread the anti-littering message, and to pick up litter when they see it.
For more information on the litter awareness campaign or to report a littering incident, Islanders can call the litter hotline at 1-866-368-5024.