Keep the County Clean Challenge returns for its 15th year in lead up to Earth Day

Cobourg, ON – April 2, 2025 – As Earth Day approaches on April 22^nd, Northumberland County residents are encouraged to take action to protect our local environment by participating in Earth Day activities planned throughout the month of April, including the 15^th annual Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge.

This challenge invites community members from municipalities throughout Northumberland to compete in a friendly competition, collecting litter from public spaces in their community. Last year, over 3,000 community members collected 11,427 kilograms of litter during this county-wide competition – marking the highest turnout in the history of the event.

“Earth Day is an opportunity to reflect on our shared responsibility to respect our natural environment and protect invaluable natural resources for future generations,” states County Warden Brian Ostrander. “Each year, I look forward to joining Northumberland residents in our collective efforts to make a positive difference during the Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge. On behalf of County Council, I encourage community members to register for the challenge to help tidy up their local neighbourhood, show their pride for their municipality, and contribute to a healthier Northumberland.”

Community members that are interested in taking positive action are invited to join in the following activities planned in recognition of Earth Day:

Earth Day activities

• Virtual Home Efficiency Retrofit Orientation (HERO) Session - Tuesday, April 8^th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  This information session, presented by Humber College and Enbridge Gas, will provide homeowners with insight into ways to lower your costs by making your home more energy-efficient. The session will include information about rebate programs to help you save money on energy-efficiency upgrades as well as tips to improve your heating/cooling systems, insultation, windows, hot water heating, and reducing air leakage. To register for the session, visit Northumberland.ca/HERO.
• Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge - Monday, April 21 to Saturday, April 26^th:
  This week-long community clean-up event, organized in collaboration with local municipalities, invites community members to register with their municipality to help clean up litter in their neighbourhood, including roadsides, parks and trails. Municipalities with the highest proportional representation of volunteers and most litter collected per volunteer will receive trophies at a meeting of County Council, in recognition of their contributions and commitment to the environment. To register, residents can reach out to their local municipality, for more information, visit Northumberland.ca/EarthDay.
• EarlyON Earth Day Family Story Time – Tuesday, April 22^nd: Families with young children are invited to join EarlyON Northumberland for engaging Earth Day stories and activities. Each child that attends an EarlyON and Family Centre location across the county will receive a pack of seeds to take home and grow, aligning with the theme of nurturing nature. The seeds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. For more programming details, visit Northumberland.ca/EarlyON.
• The 20-Minute Makeover - Friday, April 25^th:
  Individuals are encouraged to spend just a short time enhancing their local environment by tidying a nearby park, school, or trail. No registration required – just bring some gloves and a bag to an area of your choice.

To learn how to register for the Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge, and for details about other Earth Day initiatives in Northumberland, visit Northumberland.ca/EarthDay.