Aldergrove woman leads ‘litter-a-thon’ along Fraser Highway

ALDERGROVE (NEWS 1130) — Aldergove resident Jocelyn Titus really, really hates litter, but she loves cleaning it up.

At least once a week she goes out “picking.” To mark Earth Day, she’s embarked on a four-day cleanup along the Fraser Highway and she wants as many people as possible to join her this weekend.

“Seeing litter, it makes me sad,” she says.

“I want to bring awareness to the amount of litter that is everywhere, and it’s not just here in my community, it is all over the world — mass amounts of litter — and I feel like nothing’s is being done about it.”

The “litter-a-thon” is a joint initiative of the Bertrand Creek Enhancement Society and Cleaning Up Aldergrove. Because of the pandemic, it’s not safe for large groups to gather, so Titus is encouraging people to do their part while maintaining a safe social distance.

The cleanup is in honour of Titus’ stepdad Dave Brett, who was struck and killed by a tree while on walk along Robertson Crescent in the Township of Langley last September.

“He was a regular with me. He was always there beside me picking, one of my biggest supporters,” she says.

Get that garbage outta here Aldergrove!!!

Posted by Cleaning Up Aldergrove on Saturday, April 24, 2021

 

While the strangest thing she’s ever found was a $100 bill, a lot of what she discovers is less exciting — and can be quite gross. But she persists because she says it’s crucial to pick trash up before it makes it into the rivers, lakes, streams, or the ocean.

“Basically, everything will make its way to the water eventually. You might think that it’s just garbage in a ditch but eventually, it’s going to blow away and get lifted, and it’s going to keep moving,” she explains.

Money raised from any bottles, cans or other recyclables that can be returned for cash will go to Plastics Oceans Canada.

Titus hopes people will see her and her fellow “Earth Ninjas” on the side of the road will think about what they can do to help the environment.

“I want to give back. I want to show people that we can change, and we can make the planet a priority.”

She hopes to build a community online so people in different cities can support each other’s efforts.

“I want to be able to put a post out there and say Abbotsford needs a hand, let’s go help Abbotsford. Let’s go to Surrey and clean up, let’s, let’s tie everybody in, let’s try to make it fun.”

And if anyone is hesitant to join her because they’re worried about getting their hands dirty?

“It’s very rare that I actually have to touch any litter,” she says.

With files from Bethlehem Mariam

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