Community‑Led Cleanup at Black Creek Parkland

Environmental Education for a Better Earth Canada is hosting another community cleanup at the Black Creek Parkland, one of Toronto’s most important urban forest and ravine systems.

This two‑day community cleanup is part of our ongoing mission to remove plastic pollution from urban forests, protect biodiversity, and restore the health of our ravine ecosystems. Volunteers will work together to remove litter, prevent plastics from reaching waterways, and give plants and wildlife the space they need to thrive.

📍 What We’ll Be Doing

✅ Saturday, May 9

• Meet at Fred Young Park
• Clean areas bordering residential neighbourhoods and nearby ravines
• Focus on removing visible litter and plastics entering the parkland from surrounding areas

✅ Sunday, May 10

• Move deeper into the Black Creek Parkland
• Remove plastic and general litter trapped in grasses, soil, and forested areas
• Target long‑abandoned waste that continues to stress the ecosystem

On both days, collected waste will be sorted on site, separating recyclable and non‑recyclable materials to ensure proper disposal and recovery.

🧤 What We Provide

✔ Waste collection bags
✔ Protective gloves

✅ What to Bring:

• Comfortable clothing
• Closed‑toe shoes
• Reusable water bottle

🌱 Why This Matters

Urban forests and ravines like Black Creek play a critical role in:

• Supporting biodiversity
• Protecting watersheds
• Regulating urban temperatures
• Improving community health

Plastic litter blocks plant growth, contaminates soil, harms wildlife, and eventually breaks down into microplastics. Removing it especially before it fragments, is a powerful way to protect these ecosystems.

This community cleanup supports our broader ambition:

👉 Removing 1 tonne (2,204.6 pounds) of plastic waste from Toronto’s urban forests by the end of the year.

✅ Our Impact So Far

• 269 lbs of waste removed (recyclable and non‑recyclable)
• 208 lbs of plastic pollution removed
• Multiple cleanup operations completed in Black Creek Ravine

Read our Latest Cleanup Report

Every volunteer helps us move closer to this goal.

🤝 Get Involved

Whether you’re a first‑time volunteer or a returning supporter, your participation in our community cleanup makes a real difference.

👉 Register to volunteer by completing the form

Together, we can keep Black Creek Parkland clean, healthy, and thriving through community cleanup.