A pair of spring cleaning initiatives that rid both the city and Thames River of litter have been cancelled due to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19.
The Upper Thames River Conversation Authority announced on Thursday morning it has pulled the plug on this year's annual river cleanup.
Typically, thousands of people span the banks of the Thames from Mitchell to Lake St. Clair to help pick up trash in celebration of Earth Day. However, concerns around physical distancing led organizers to scrap the event. This is the first time in 20 years the cleanup effort has been cancelled outright.
Hours after it was announced the river cleanup would not go ahead, the City of London also said it is delaying the 2020 Clean and Green program until further notice. That means the 20 Minute Makeover by businesses and community cleanups won't be happening this month as they have for the past two decades. The city also won't be handing out the usual supply of gloves and garbage bags.
"The health and safety of our volunteers, partners, and the community is our top priority,” Jay Stanford, director of environment, fleet and solid waste for the city, said in a statement. “We look forward to re-launching our 25th year of London Clean and Green when it becomes clear it is safe to do so."
It is estimated roughly 20 tonnes of trash is picked up across the city over the course of the 14-day cleanup effort each year.
