A GROUP of concerned citizens in the north have got together to clean-up their town's image.
The group's concern for the environment has led to their forming the local version of HOPE Helping Our Polluted Environment.
Their first project using the rubbish bin concept, involved installing 80 bright red bins throughout town and soliciting the help of artistic school students to make the bins even more attractive and hard to miss.
HOPE official Doreen Robinson explained the rubbish bin concept.
"We want to make people aware that all their litter should go into the bin, not in drains or on the streets of town," Ms Robinson said.
"There is so much rubbish everywhere. Bottles, papers, food and other types of garbage are a major eyesore in town."
Ms Robinson said many schools had been invited to adopt a bin and paint artistic designs on it.
Five schools participated last Saturday. Teachers accompanied their school's top artists who spent the better part of the day painting the bins and getting a first hand awareness on the importance of keeping the environment clean.
"It's not just about keeping this town clean, it's also about conservation. We know that children are the future and if we can inculcate in them a desire to be part of the greater effort of saving the environment than the fate of our environment looks brighter," Ms Robinson further articulated.
Town councillor Paulini Waqaniboro said Ink Mobiles sponsored the bins and the whole cleanliness drive was supported by the Friendly North Festival committee.
"This is a collective effort that we'll be seeing more often in the future all in the name of the saving the environment," Cr Waqaniboro said.
