FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Toronto, ON - July 19, 2023
The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup, an initiative of Pollution Probe and the Council of the Great Lakes Region, is excited to welcome the City of Belleville in Ontario, Canada, to its network of sites working to address plastic pollution across the Great Lakes. Situated on the north side of the Bay of Quinte, the two Seabins newly installed at Belleville’s Meyers Pier will contribute to the initiative’s data collection and public engagement efforts at the eastern end of Lake Ontario.
“We are thrilled to welcome the City of Belleville to the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup,” says Christopher Hilkene, CEO of Pollution Probe. “The addition of a new site to the initiative’s network will create new opportunities for community involvement and the data obtained will help both local and regional efforts to tackle plastic pollution in the Great Lakes.”
Belleville is referred to as the beautiful city (“Belle Ville”), known for its lovely waterfront trails, and access to a number of excellent beaches, and boating and fishing opportunities. The new plastic capture devices installed through the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup will build on the City’s existing efforts to mitigate the impacts of pollution on local waterways, including through the installation of another type of plastic capture device - the LittaTrap. In 2021, the City’s Green Task Force piloted three LittaTraps along the Riverfront and Waterfront trails to divert plastic from entering the Moira River and the Bay of Quinte. The pilot project was so successful (13.5 kg of debris was collected) that an additional 17 devices were installed in additional locations across the city.
“The City of Belleville is very proud to be part of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup,” said City of Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis. “As a city, we are committed to protecting our shoreline habitat areas and improving the quality of water run-off to our two main drinking water sources – the Bay of Quinte and Moira River. Initiatives like the LittaTrap and Seabin projects help us do just that. We look forward to the results these devices will garner going forward.”
The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup launched in 2020 with an initial 21 sites along the Canadian shoreline of the Great Lakes. The initiative has since grown to include over 80 locations and 90 collaborators in both Canada and the U.S. The City of Belleville joins a growing number of sites along the northern shore of Lake Ontario where the initiative’s data from 2022 showed an average of 125 pieces of debris removed by plastic capture technologies around the lake each day. Belleville’s participation in the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup will contribute to further data being collected on the sources, types and pathways for plastic entering the lakes, a critical step in finding effective, long-term solutions to the issue of plastic pollution.
About the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup
The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup, an initiative of Pollution Probe and the Council of the Great Lakes Region with support from a network of funders and collaborators, is the largest initiative of its kind in the world, using innovative plastic capture technology to remove plastic and other litter from Lake Ontario to Lake Superior and everywhere in between. Through research, outreach and education, the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup is gathering data on litter entering our waterways and identifying how government, industry, and consumers can work together to reduce, reuse and recycle material waste.
To learn more, visit www.greatlakesplasticcleanup.org.
About the City of Belleville
The City of Belleville is located on the north shore of the Bay of Quinte. Ideally situated between Toronto and Montreal, and less than one hour from the U.S. border, Belleville truly is at the centre of it all. Approximately 49,000 people make Belleville their home and over 200,000 live within 30 minutes of the city. Belleville’s bustling city streets contrast the rolling rural landscapes that surround them.
Contacts:
Melissa De Young
Director, Policy & Programs
Pollution Probe
(416) 926-1907 x239 | mdeyoung@pollutionprobe.org
Jenna Leslie
Communications Coordinator
City of Belleville
(613) 967-3200 x3261 | jleslie@belleville.ca
Mark Fisher
President and CEO
Council of the Great Lakes Region
(613) 668-2044 | mark@councilgreatlakesregion.org