By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As the winter blues begin to melt away, so too does the winter slush and snow, revealing months' worth of trash and litter left behind on Caledon streets.

Bolton resident Dan Melo, better known as “Dan the Litter Man,” is the one to thank for helping keep parking lots and boulevards clean in Bolton.

He began doing small cleanups himself back in 2021, often sharing them to his growing online audience on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.

Melo shares videos of himself picking up garbage with his litter picker and backpack by his side, often sharing his weirdest finds with the audience.

Now, he hopes to share his cleanups with the community more than just online.

With warmer weather approaching, Melo is on a mission to host community cleanups for everyone to participate in; he's planning them for April and the following warmer months.

With April being Earth Month, it's a great place to start.

“It's about getting outside,” he says, adding it helps keep people off their phones.

As he steps out for another cleanup, along a boulevard next to Highway 50, Melo remarks that he “shouldn't even have to do this,” but people continue to throw out cups, bags, and more right onto the grass.

Although it may seem disheartening to look out at the vast amount of garbage people litter every day, Melo keeps an upbeat attitude.

“A litter bit at a time! And a litter bit goes a long way,” he says.

During his cleanup alongside the highway, Melo found various pieces of trash and litter discarded into the slush and mud, but without hesitation, he worked to clear the area – at the end, ensuring each piece of trash was returned to a dumpster.

For those looking to join Melo on his next cleanup adventure, follow him on Facebook, Instagram @danthelittermanmelo, or TikTok @danthelitterman to find out more specifics on his upcoming community cleanups.