Bothwell residents looking to spruce up the town for its 150th anniversary celebrations in July won't have to drive all the way to the dump to get rid of their trash.
At least for now.
East Kent Councillor David VanDamme says he's teaming up with Waste Connections (formerly Progressive Waste Solutions), and the Ridge Landfill to put a pair of garbage bins out in the community so that residents have somewhere to put garbage that may be lying around in their yard or on the street.
He says the idea came out of discussions he has been having with residents in the Bothwell-area for the past couple of years.
"It's been a difficult process getting some of the lots and the older properties cleaned up," says VanDamme. "Residents were concerned because Bothwell is having their big 150th anniversary celebration coming up on July 1 and we thought, 'How can we work together to make one truly good thing happen -- how can we clean up the town?'"
VanDamme says the bins are receiving an especially warm welcome because they're being donated by Waste Connections, so there is no cost to the taxpayer.
The bins have been out at the Bothwell Arena and at 189 Elm St. since Monday.
"It's getting great traction," says VanDamme. "As of early morning [Thursday] one bin was completely filled and one was just about filled."
VanDamme says he's currently fielding a number of questions about what people can dump in the bins and whether there are any items that are off limits.
"This is primarily for outdoor garbage, you can't put toxic chemicals in, no flammables or things like that, and we're trying to limit the amount of steel," says VanDamme. "Things that are currently in place for what transfer stations accept pretty much goes for these dumpsters as well."
But the bins aren't the only thing that's helping the town clean up -- VanDamme says the move is snowballing into a larger effort.
"It has resulted in another positive step -- there are a number of tires on municipal lots and private lots that a private contractor has agreed to come in and remove as well," says VanDamme. "It's just good all the way around."
Bothwell will be celebrating Canada Day and the town's 150th anniversary with a special homecoming event that will include historical displays, a car show, live music, midway games, chainsaw carving demonstrations, an auction, and a fireworks show.
