It’s a simple message, but one that many people older than Piper Reid may benefit from hearing.
“Everyone should keep their garbage and put it in the closest garbage can or recycling,” the nine-year-old said.
Until the day this happens more universally, Reid and her friends will be out there picking up litter around Acton.
The local girl is on a mission to keep the community clean and has started doing routine garbage pick ups wherever she sees the need.
“It’s fun and I like to do it in my spare time,” she said. “I think that they (people who litter) are not nice to the environment. We’re probably not going to survive if there’s a bunch of garbage around.”
Reid’s mother, Leanne Atherton, is helping her daughter connect with others who want to make Acton more beautiful as well. She recently launched the Garbage Grabbers group on Facebook to organize the litter collection efforts and plans on having some shirts made.
The group is being sponsored by Reid's grandmother, who's buying garbage grabber sticks for everyone who wants to help out.
The grade 4 student at Robert Little - who’s been known to take a garbage bag outside during school recess to do a bit of tidying up, or beautify the campgrounds when on vacation with her family - believes everyone can make a difference when it comes to keeping the earth clean.
“If someone is walking on the sidewalk and sees some trash, they should pick it up and put it in the nearest garbage can,” she said.
To join the Garbage Grabbers group on Facebook, click here.
