Colwood is waging war on tossers – of the littering variety.
“Don’t be a tosser. Keep Colwood litter free,” says a city poster at a bus stop on Veterans Memorial Parkway near Cairndale Road.
It’s one of a series of slogans popping up at bus stops across the city designed to encourage residents and visitors to be more thoughtful with their trash.
“Trash on the beach hurts more than just the view,” warns one poster.
“You belong here… your litter doesn’t,” says another.
The campaign is the result of a collaboration between the city’s volunteer coordinator and new group Promoting Involvement for Community Kleanup Colwood, who are better known as PICK Colwood.
However, the campaign’s use of the word “tosser” has raised some eyebrows.
In British English, the word is considered to be an offensive slang term with a sexual connotation, often used to describe a “stupid or unpleasant person.”
“They should have thought this one through … or maybe they did,” wrote one person underneath an image of the poster shared on Facebook.
But Colwood is not the first to use the "don’t be a tosser" message.
It has been used for many years in anti-litter campaigns in the U.K. and Australia, intended as a light-hearted play on words to catch folks’ attention.
Sandra Russell, manager of communications and engagement, is happy the campaign is having the same effect in Colwood.
“Glad our important messaging to support a clean community by discouraging people from tossing litter is achieving its goal of being noticed,” she said.
“No unpleasant allusions intended, obviously.”
PICK Colwood’s Charlotte Gorley is encouraged to see word spreading that the city won't turn a blind eye to litterbugs.
Since the group’s launch in February, volunteers have collected a total of 562 pounds of litter dropped across the city – well over 4,000 pieces of trash, says Gorley.
But the effort isn't just about cleaning up. The group is also collecting data on the types of trash they find and where it accumulates, in the hope that the information can be used to identify major sources of litter and start conversations with businesses and the community to develop solutions.
Already, the group have picked up on a number of worrying patterns.
One recurring problem is a stretch of Veterans Memorial Parkway, between Cairndale and Sooke roads, where fast-food single-use containers make up a large share of the waste.
“That's the bulk of it, wherever we go,” said Gorley.
Another troubling trend is the number of discarded cigarette butts collected by volunteers.
“Especially when you consider, not only is it a health hazard and an environmental hazard for people and for animals, but it's also a fire hazard, especially at this time of year,” Gorley says.
PICK Colwood’s data is also attracting academic interest. Discussions are underway for students at Royal Roads University to potentially use the information for their own research projects.
Something Gorley hopes will help address a broader knowledge gap in Canada.
"I've been looking for academic and peer-reviewed articles on litter,” Gorley said. “There are very few that are based in Canada. Most of the research that I'm finding is in other countries … so there is a gap for research on litter and illegal dumping here in Canada.”
Watching PICK Colwood stir change in the community is a "fantastic feeling," says Gorley.
“It's very exciting at times,” she says. “It’s also a bit overwhelming because our group has so many ideas that we would like to implement, but we don't have the manpower yet to reach out even further.”
Ambitions for the group include collaboration with local schools and youth groups such as the Canadian Association of Girls in Science, plus seniors residential homes.
“We’re really trying to get more interest and this practice embedded in our community,” said Gorley.
Litter picks are planned for Saturday, July 26, at Colwood’s food truck and music festival, Eats and Beats, at The Beachlands; and Wednesday, July 30 on Sooke Road.
Gorley encourages folks to sign up in advance by emailing: pickcolwood@gmail.com.
For more information about how to get involved with PICK Colwood, visit: .
