SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Yellowknife Trash Pick-up Artists are back at work for a couple more weeks.

The group of volunteers are out on the street, collecting the garbage that is emerging from the melting snow, as they've done every spring since 2008.

City councillor Paul Falvo has been organizing trash pickups every spring since 2008. He said it's satisfying to know that because of his efforts and that of volunteers, there is less garbage on the city's streets. - Nicole Veerman/NNSL photo

The group, headed by city councillor Paul Falvo, begins their weekly pickup at Javaroma at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays.

At last week's pickup, 24 volunteers showed up, said Falvo.

"Twenty-four people means, even by a conservative estimate, 12 bags of garbage picked up, which is fantastic," he said. "You go to sleep that night and there were 12 fewer bags of garbage on the streets. You can think whatever else went wrong today, there's one less bag of garbage out there because of something I did, so it's very satisfying to play a part in that."

The group targets the downtown core – any spot within walking distance of Javaroma.

There's no wrong place to pick up garbage, though, said Falvo.

"We just go where it collects," he said. "It collects in lots against fences sometimes, alleys, it's often around places that dispense fast food in wrappers and disposable containers and also places where people like to gather and drink.

"There's no wrong place. It's on the ground and we pick it up."

Tales From the Dump columnist Walt Humphries is a regular at the weekly pickups and has been since the beginning. He doesn't limit his garbage collection to just one day a week for a few weeks, though.

He picks up at least five pieces of garbage every time he goes out.

"If every person, every time they went out for a walk, picked up five pieces of litter, the place would be spotless," he said.

"And if a place is clean, people tend to keep it clean."

When someone sees a person picking up litter, they're less likely to drop a food wrapper or pop bottle on the ground, said Falvo.

"People see volunteers out there with the vests on, so it creates a positive impression," he said.

The Yellowknife Trash Pick-up Artists aren't the only ones cleaning up the streets.

Falvo said BHP Billiton has a monthly cleanup and there are also youth groups and different organizations that have adopted streets.

"I encourage everyone to do their part," he said.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.