It’s time for spring cleaning, and Saint John, N.B., is preparing to tackle outdoor cleanups with The Green Machine. The 14-foot trailer is fully stocked with free tools and supplies to support volunteers hosting community cleanup events. The service is starting again in May as the snow melts, revealing litter and winter debris. “It’s a free community cleanup in a box,” says Craig Ganong, supervisor of community development within the community services division at the City of Saint John. The machine comes stocked with gloves, bags, wheelbarrows, and more. “Anything you need to carry out - whether it’s your first community cleanup or you’re a repeat customer - we bring it over there completely free,” he adds. The service is not available for commercial or business use, but interested residents can go through a portal on the city’s website to book. “Then we’re able to take away that garbage from your neighbourhood and make it sustainable and free,” says Ganong. “We want a good environment for people to live in,” he explains. The Green Machine has become a popular program in the city, especially in the lead up to Earth Day, taking place this year on April 22. “We get a lot of chatter of when it’s going to come available for operational use,” he says. Ganong adds these events aren’t just making a safer cleaner environment, they’re building tighter community bonds. He’s heard many customer testimonials of neighbours meeting for the first time and people getting involved in community groups. “Ever since the pandemic, I find that people have been used to not socializing as much and this kind of event brings communities together,” he says. The Green Machine is available each spring from May 1 to June 14, with online reservation applications now open. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
