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Why we like Susan and Doreen

Susan McCooeye and Doreen McGowan from the local office of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation are really helpful ladies.
StashTrash

Susan McCooeye and Doreen McGowan from the local office of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation are really helpful ladies.

They were over at the Roberta Bondar building on Bay Street today, showing off some spiffy new trash containers they're installing along Highway 17 between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa as part of an experimental anti-litter campaign.

SooToday.com had some trash we no longer had any use for, so we handed it over to Susan and Doreen, who disposed of it expeditiously as the first piece of really useless stuff to be deposited into the distinctive new containers.

If you have similar litter in your car, these ladies want you to watch for their white disposal barrels at snowplow turnarounds, roadside rest areas and other locations between Sault Ste Marie and Wawa.

They've even giving away matching litter bags for your car.

The Ontario Provincial Police were also on hand for today's announcement, asking you to dial *OPP (*677) on your cell phone if you spot anyone throwing litter on the roadside instead.

Here's the official announcement released jointly today by the OPP and the Ministry of Transportation:

********************* OPP pitch in to help MTO 'Stash your Trash'

Sault Ste Marie, Ont. - The Sault Ste Marie and Wawa detachments of the OPP are pitching in to help the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) with a trial anti-litter campaign along Highway 17.

Today the Ministry of Transportation is launching the "Stash your Trash" campaign to reduce the quantity of litter that is discarded all along Highway 17 between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa.

The campaign slogan of "Stash your Trash" is being complemented with a new symbol and accompanying road signage that will readily identify numerous extra disposal sites for travelers along this stretch of the Trans Canada Highway.

The MTO is concerned about the growing amount of litter that is continually discarded on the Trans Canada Highway.

Highway 17, between Sault Ste Marie and Wawa, was chosen for this experimental project with a goal to reduce the amount of litter along this scenic portion of Ontario’s highway system.

A large number of white disposal barrels with the new distinctive green symbol have been placed at snowplow turnarounds, roadside rest areas and other locations between Sault Ste Marie and Wawa.

Permanent signs will advise the travelling public of the locations of these new sites where motorists will be able to deposit their trash into one of the barrels.

"Stash your Trash" bags have been produced by the Ministry of Transportation.

These bags are available free of charge at numerous locations between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa. The bags can be emptied in any one of the "Stash your Trash" barrels.

The MTO and the OPP encourage all road users to take ownership and responsibility of the environment and your trash.

Road users between Sault Ste Marie and Wawa will now have highly visible and easily accessible disposal sites beside the highway.

The Ministry of Transportation will conduct an evaluation of effectiveness of this initiative.

The Ministry of Transportation and the OPP will work together to identify offenders who are caught littering on the highway.

Everyone can help by calling the OPP if you see road users littering.

The toll free number to call the OPP is 1-888-310-1122.

You can also contact the OPP free on a cell phone by pressing *OPP (*677). Be part of the solution-- not part of the problem.

Stash your Trash!

************************* Stash your Trash - Questions and Answers

Q. What is the Stash Your Trash campaign? The Stash Your Trash campaign is an anti-litter campaign that targets Highway 17 between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa.

Q. What are the components of the campaign?

The Stash Your Trash campaign has several components:

- Trash barrels - Vehicle litter bags - Tray liners for restaurants, and - Billboards located at each end of the highway corridor Q. Why was this section of Highway 17 chosen?

This section of the Trans Canada highway was chosen for its history of litter problems and because of its scenic nature and the negative impact of litter. In addition, it was felt that the remoteness of the area contributes to the litter problem.

Q. How many sites have Stash Your Trash barrels?

There are 13 sites between Sault Ste Marie and Wawa - mainly snow plow turn-arounds and rest areas.

Q. Why were those sites chosen? The sites were identified by MTO maintenance staff as locations where travellers pull over and where there is a history of litter problems.

Q. Are businesses participating? Numerous restaurants and gas stations and the provincial parks between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa are participating in the campaign.

Q. What does MTO hope to achieve with the Stash Your Trash campaign? The intent of the Stash Your Trash campaign is to: - increase public awareness of the problem - provide the public with a convenient way to collect vehicle trash, and - provide locations where motorists can dispose of trash safely

Q. How much does the Stash Your Trash program cost? The start-up cost is approximately $15,000 of which $8,000 is a one-time cost for billboards and trash barrels.

Q. Will the trial area be expanded? The campaign will be evaluated the end of the summer and a decision will be made regarding continuation and/or expansion.

Q. Where can motorists get Stash Your Trash litter bags? Vehicle litter bags are available at the Wawa Tourist Information site, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Pancake Bay Provincial Park, Agawa Provincial Park, the SSM MTO Area Office at Roberta Bondar Place (945-6611 or 1-877-366-0669 extension 6614), the Government Information Centre and participating restaurants and gas stations along the Sault Ste. Marie-Wawa corridor.

Q. Can household garbage be left at the sites? No. The campaign targets trash that people collect inside their vehicle. The public should continue to use their normal disposal site for household garbage.

Q. Why was this program initiated? Highway litter is a problem and littering is a crime. Volunteers like Adopt-A-Highway groups and highway maintenance workers put themselves at risk when collecting litter. Stash Your Trash sites provide convenient and safe locations for the public to dispose of vehicle trash. The campaign is also designed to raise public awareness about litter problems. The Ministry of Transportation and the Ontario Provincial Police hope that motorists become part of the solution, not part of the problem.

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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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