A Cleaner Winnipeg: Community Efforts and Ongoing Challenges
Winnipeg has seen a noticeable improvement in the cleanliness of its streets, thanks to the combined efforts of city crews, volunteers, and the non-profit organization Take Pride Winnipeg. This renewed commitment to keeping the city clean is reflected in the 2025 Litter Index, which measures the amount of visible litter on streets and boulevards.
The index uses a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst. In March, the average score was 5.35, but by June, it had dropped to 3.28. This significant decrease shows that the city’s spring cleanup efforts, along with the involvement of many community members, have made a real difference.
Tom Ethans, the executive director of Take Pride Winnipeg, explained that the initial conditions after the snow melted were quite poor. “We had over 20 neighborhoods rated a 10 — the worst possible rating,” he said. However, with the city’s spring cleanup and an impressive number of volunteers, there has been a remarkable improvement.
This year, more than 10,340 students and teachers, as well as over 3,000 businesses and community groups, participated in various litter cleanups across the city. Despite these positive developments, Ethans emphasized that there is still work to be done.
“There are still streets that need help,” he said. “I had my summer students go out just yesterday in two areas of the city, and in two hours they picked up 11 bags of litter. That tells you there’s still a long way to go.”
Take Pride Winnipeg’s Litter Index tracks 12 different areas of the city, all of which have shown improvements over the past few months. For instance, the northwest area saw a drop from 6.46 in March to 3.76 in June, while the southwest area improved from 5.0 to 2.6 — one of the best scores in the city.
The West End, which initially had one of the worst scores at 6.8, has now improved to 4.3, although it is still above the city average. This progress, however, is a positive step forward.
Ethans credits both the city and the community for their support in this effort. He highlighted the contributions of grassroots volunteers like Kathy and Lynn, two local seniors who spend several days a week picking up litter around Kenaston and Sterling Lyon.
“I met them two weekends ago, and they’re just out there on their own, doing it because they care,” Ethans said. “I stopped and talked to them, gave them gloves and bags, and even a little gift from Take Pride. I love it when I see people picking up litter. I always stop to say thank you.”
While volunteer efforts are making a difference, Ethans believes that the key to long-term change lies in education and personal responsibility. He urged residents to stop throwing trash out of car windows or dropping garbage while walking.
“If we could all just stop littering, we’d be a litter-free city,” he said. Ethans also encouraged Winnipeggers to take their garbage home when visiting city parks, as public bins often overflow, leading to recyclable materials ending up in landfills.
“People think they’re doing the right thing, but a lot of those recycling bins in parks get contaminated. If you’re at a picnic or a party, just leave no trace behind. It’s that simple.”
Take Pride Winnipeg provides supplies such as gloves and bags for groups interested in organizing their own cleanups. The organization can also help identify areas that need the most attention. Residents looking to volunteer can contact Take Pride Winnipeg directly or reach out to program manager Carrie Lund at [email protected].
“We all have to work together to make a difference,” Ethans said. “It doesn’t take much to clean up an area. The more we do it, the more beautiful our city becomes.”