Employees at Walker Industries hauled 4,300 pounds of waste in NOTL last Tuesday during their annual cleanup blitz, nearly doubling last year’s total.
More than 50 staff combed parks, trails and roadsides on May 13 for the company’s sixth-annual Day of Action on Litter, collecting the mass equivalent of 21 refrigerators of trash.
Walker allocates two paid volunteer days annually per employee, who are encouraged to participate in community engagement activities like these.
Queenston local Neil Donald praised Walker’s efforts after seeing teams near his neighbourhood, calling it “a great corporate thing to do.”
“They were really getting in there under bushes and along highways where trash accumulates,” said Donald, who later reached out to Walker to compliment the company for their efforts in cleaning the community.
The event began in 2019 after Ontario’s Bill 130 aimed to curb the common practice of littering.
“It’s not their job to clean our streets, but it makes a difference,” said Donald.
Darren Fry, Walker’s project director for environmental initiatives, said Walker employees spent over 4,000 hours volunteering with 150 organizations in 2024.
This week, 50 volunteers collected 4,300 pounds of litter — nearly double last year’s total.
“Employees here at Walker want to be good community citizens and lead by example,” said Fry.
Donald suggested that Walker could open up the event to the public to help clean up their community.
“If Walker wants to get the public involved, and then pick up our garbage bags afterward, I’d join in. More people would help if it’s organized,” said Donald.
Walker partners with many community organizations for their sustainability projects. Last week, Walker employees volunteered at Community Care in St. Catharines, sorting through canned food donations.
Fry said Walker would be open to expanding its Day of Action on Litter by working with more people in the community next year and letting them help with the cleanup.
The fifth-generation Niagara-based company released its 2024 sustainability report last month, detailing its commitment to building a sustainable future in Niagara through social endeavours like this, such as planting 28 trees around the Greater Toronto Area last year with the Riverwood Conservancy.
