May Momentum Brings A Greener Future Closer to 10 Million Pieces of Litter Removed
From shoreline cleanups to community collaborations, May brought measurable impact and major momentum on the road to 10 million pieces removed.
MEDIA RELEASE
Ontario, Canada — June 15, 2026
A Greener Future continued its 2026 Love Your Lakes season in May with cleanups across the Lake Ontario shoreline, bringing together volunteers, community partners, and corporate teams to remove litter, collect important data, and protect local green spaces and waterways.
The month marked another step toward a major organizational milestone: 10 million pieces of litter removed since A Greener Future began in 2014. Every cleanup brings the organization closer to that goal while helping communities take direct action for cleaner parks, shorelines, and water.
A Greener Future Staff and volunteers getting ready to start a cleanup at Humber Bay Shores Park, Toronto on May 9th, 2026.
May Impact at a Glance
In May, A Greener Future:
Hosted 57 cleanups across the Lake Ontario shoreline
Engaged 420 volunteers
Removed 181,253 pieces of litter from parks, beaches, and shorelines
Worked with 8 corporate and community groups
Moved closer to the organization’s all-time milestone of 10 million pieces of litter removed since 2014
“One of the most rewarding aspects has been watching first-time volunteers become regulars. We’re excited to continue this momentum and see the positive impact we can make together this summer!”
Building Momentum Along Lake Ontario
Throughout May, volunteers joined A Greener Future at cleanups across the region, removing litter from shorelines, parks, and public spaces that connect directly to Lake Ontario and surrounding waterways.
Each cleanup contributes to more than a cleaner park. Volunteers also help collect litter data, giving A Greener Future insight into what types of waste are most commonly found in local environments. This data helps identify litter trends, support education, and guide long-term solutions to pollution.
From cigarette butts and plastic pieces to food wrappers and other single-use items, the litter removed in May reflects the continued need for prevention, education, and community action.
“We’ve welcomed so many enthusiastic volunteers, had meaningful conversations about the litter we find and where it comes from, and watched our community continue to grow with every cleanup. It’s inspiring to see people come together around a shared goal of protecting our lakes and shorelines”
Community and Corporate Teams Step Up
May also brought strong support from corporate teams, community partners, and local volunteers who came together to take action in their own communities.
Corporate and community cleanups play an important role in expanding A Greener Future’s reach. These events give groups the opportunity to spend meaningful time outdoors, strengthen team connections, and make a visible difference in the places people live, work, and gather.
The Oxford Properties team, at Cherry Beach in Toronto on May 26th, 2026 for a corporate cleanup event.
On the Road to 10 Million
Since 2014, A Greener Future has worked with volunteers, partners, and communities to remove litter from parks, shorelines, trails, and public spaces across Ontario.
The organization is now approaching a major milestone: 10 million pieces of litter removed.
With the Love Your Lakes season continuing through the summer, A Greener Future is inviting volunteers, partners, and community members to join upcoming cleanups and help move the organization closer to this milestone.
Monthly Highlight
On Saturday, May 30, 2026, the entire AGF team joined 15 volunteers at Sunnyside Beach in Toronto for what became the largest cleanup of the month, where we removed an impressive 19,394 pieces of litter from the shoreline.
This cleanup served as a powerful monthly wrap-up, setting an exciting tone for the months ahead. Every cleanup contributes valuable data, conversations, and inspires more people to become environmental stewards in their own communities.
A Greener Future Staff and volunteers getting ready to start a cleanup at Sunnyside Beach, Toronto on May 30th, 2026.
“May has been an incredible start to the Love Your Lakes season. Seeing volunteers, community partners, and corporate teams come together has been both inspiring and motivating. The momentum we’re building is creating real environmental change, and we’re excited to keep growing that impact throughout the summer as we work toward our goal of removing 10 million pieces of litter.”
What’s Next
Love Your Lakes cleanups will continue throughout the summer in communities along Lake Ontario, including Toronto, Mississauga, Durham Region, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, and surrounding areas.
Volunteers can sign up for upcoming cleanup events at www.agreenerfuture.ca/events-page.
High school students can earn community service hours, and no previous cleanup experience is required.
Thank you to every volunteer, partner, sponsor and supporter who helped make May such a success. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in June.
ABOUT A GREENER FUTURE
A Greener Future is an Ontario-based environmental non-profit organization working to create cleaner, healthier communities through litter cleanups, education, and community engagement. Since 2014, A Greener Future has brought volunteers, partners, and communities together to remove litter from the environment, collect data, and inspire action against pollution.
Through programs including Love Your Lakes, the UNSMOKE Butt Blitz, Nurdle Hunts, corporate cleanups, and community events, A Greener Future helps people take meaningful action for the environment and protect the places we all share. To learn more, visit A Greener Future at www.agreenerfuture.ca, on Instagram and Facebook.
MEDIA ASSETS:
Click here for high-res images of the Love Your Lakes clean-ups this year!
Media Contact
Nino Lovell
Communications Coordinator, A Greener Future
Email:nino@agreenerfuture.ca
Rochelle Byrne
Founder and Executive Director, A Greener Future
Email:info@agreenerfuture.ca