PEIA local watershed group says it was shocked to see so much garbage in a local stream recently, and is speaking out in the hope that more people will think about the environment and disposing of garbage properly.Group says there was a lot of material in the water that is dangerous to fish and wildlifeRyan McKellop · CBC News · Posted: Nov 25, 2025 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Watershed group alarmed by surge of garbage in local streamA local watershed group was shocked to see so much garbage in a local stream recently. The group is speaking out in the hope that more people will think about the environment and disposing of garbage properly. CBC’s Laura Meader reports.A local watershed group says it was shocked to see so much garbage in a local stream recently, and is speaking out in the hope that more people will think about the environment and disposing of garbage properly.The Charlottetown Area Watershed Association says it removed about six bags of garbage from behind the Hidden Valley subdivision, which is still under construction. The group found a mixture of regular garbage and large construction materials, which clogged the waterway. The group’s co-ordinator, Ajhma Dhakal, said they often find garbage in local streams. “It’s everywhere. Earlier this year, we cleaned up about 200 kilograms of garbage from all our watershed.”Dhakel said the group sees a lot of cups and food wrappers, as well as lighter construction materials that blow away from sites.”It’s really sad to see, it impacts our water quality and impacts the wildlife that rely on it, so it’s really bad,” she said. “Even a small piece of garbage can impact… the fish that rely on it, because it’s a fish habitat.”Ajhma Dhakal, co-ordinator for the Charlottetown Area Watershed Association, says her group has already cleaned up about 200 kilograms of garbage from the streams they manage this year. (Laura Meader/CBC)Dhakal said while the association will continue to clean the streams, there’s a role for the community to play. “It’s a broader community issue. So I think if everyone would be responsible for their garbage and [be] mindful, then we’ll definitely see a lot less problem in our waterways.”Heather Laiskonis, executive director of the P.E.I Watershed Alliance, said many people don’t realize their garbage ends up polluting streams. “It’s mostly due to wind. We don’t typically find people intentionally putting things in the stream. It really gets there just because we’re so wind battered.”Heather Laiskonis, executive director of the P.E.I. Watershed Alliance, says it is especially common in urban areas to have garbage end up in waterways, and it’s often due to wind. (Laura Meader/CBC)Harley Harper, who has lived next to the Hidden Valley subdivision for 13 years, said he has noticed more garbage in the area recently, and attributes it to the construction. “Styrofoam, or vinyl, a piece of plastic wrapper from various building products, [I] see them on any windy day flying by, you know, going down the street,” he said. “They do try to collect but, on a windy day, you just can’t chase every bit and piece.”The P.E.I. Construction Association said contractors do try to keep materials tied down, but it can be a challenge. Harley Harper lives near the Hidden Valley subdivision. He says he regularly sees garbage flying around during windy days, which often ends up in the nearby water stream. (Laura Meader/CBC)Laiskonis said that while there are troubling examples like the stream behind the Hidden Valley subdivision, she thinks that overall, Islanders take pride in keeping P.E.I. clean. “I remember the first time I ever set foot on the P.E.I. beach, I couldn’t believe it, [it] was the cleanest beach I’d ever been on,” she said, also noting that she often sees volunteers cleaning up litter along the road. “So I think we take pride in our environment, not just the watershed groups. I think Islanders in general are very proud of keeping our streets clean.”Dhakal said she hopes people will think twice before littering, and realize that trash often ends up in streams and other waterways. “[Watersheds are] where everything is connected. Human beings, wildlife, everybody relies on water, right? So it’s very important to protect our watersheds and [be] mindful of your garbage.”ABOUT THE AUTHORRyan McKellop is a graduate of the Holland College journalism program and is working as an Associate Producer and Web Writer. Got a story idea? Email ryan.mckellop@cbc.caWith files from Laura Meader
P.E.I. watershed group disappointed by volume of garbage found in local stream
