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Carting away hundreds of pounds of garbage from Jones Lake this Saturday

Saturday event an effort to remove food, air mattresses, tents, even wet wipes, left behind by campers
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Campers at Jones Lake leave behind all manner of garbage says a clean up organizer. (Submitted photo)

This weekend the Four Wheel Drive Association of BC are taking it upon themselves to clean up the Jones Lake area, a place Ross Aikenhead says has become a spot for ‘weekend warriors’ who leave all manner of garbage behind.

The clean up takes place Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. and Aikenhead, one of the organizers, said people should come prepared with good footwear as well as appropriate clothing, the area is colder than down-Valley and could be rainy, as well as rubber gloves. Everything else will be supplied by the association, who are also bringing a roll off truck and utility trailer to transport the garbage collected Saturday.

Aikenhead said the Jones Lake area, home to two organized campsites as well as people’s cabins and crown land, has in recent years attracted the party crowd who leave behind large amounts of garbage. Aikenhead said a clean up in the area earlier this year took out 6,000 pounds of garbage.

Doing a clean up in the area last fall, Aikenhead said he found camping gear, tents, air mattresses and junk including plates and leftover food. He also noticed a “disturbing trend.” “People are not using toilet paper anymore, they’re using wet wipes and wet wipes last well over 100 years. So the person that used that wet wipe will be dead and gone long before the wet wipe disappears,” he said.

Saturday’s clean up will also remove this type of refuse using grabbers. Organizers will also be trying to sort recyclables out, proceeds from these recyclables at previous clean ups have gone to charitable organizations, as well as metal. Dumping fees are luckily waived said Aikenhead, by the City of Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley Regional District.

Those wanting to take part in the clean up should take care driving to the lake, although maintenance was recently done Aikenhead said, that should make the drive easier.

People who make their way to the area Saturday will see pop up tents and vehicles stationed there, they will need to sign in for contact tracing purposes and are encouraged to wear gloves, keep physically distanced and wear masks when in close quarters with others. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available, organizers say.

More information about the clean up can be found by contacting Matt Ion at communications@4wdabc.ca or 604-970-3612.

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A view of the beautiful Jones Lake area complete with, a pile of garbage left behind on the side of the road. (Submitted photo)