Trade a Litter Trinket

Together, we can keep our “hood” clean, safe, and looking its best.

The next time you are out for a walk in the neighbourhood, you might notice something a little different happening, people slowing down, looking a bit closer at their surroundings, and picking up more than just litter. That’s all part of the “Trade a Litter Trinket” initiative, a simple idea that’s helping turn everyday clean-ups into something meaningful and even a little bit fun.

It starts with a clean-up. Residents head out into their local streets, parks, and pathways, collecting rubbish and doing their bit to care for the place we all share. Along the way, they keep an eye out for something unexpected, small, durable items that have been left behind, like a toy car, a keychain, or a tiny collectible. These “trinkets,” once cleaned up, can be traded in for something new at my office, giving them a second life instead of being thrown away.

There’s something special about the idea that one person’s discarded item can become someone else’s little treasure. Each trinket tells a quiet story of where it’s been, who found it, and how it’s been given another chance. At the same time, every piece of litter picked up is one less item in our streets, parks, and waterways.

Getting involved is easy, too. For those keen to join in, litter clean-up kits are available to borrow from my office, making it simple to head out and start making a difference straight away or you can order a kit online and have it delivered to your front door