A local hero spent hours cleaning garbage from parts of Vancouver following this past weekend’s BMO marathon.
The BMO Vancouver Marathon happened on Sunday, May 4, and for some who had garbage to toss, the force (of cleanliness) was not with them.
One Good Samaritan took it upon themself to clean up, and they told Daily Hive they spent four hours collecting garbage.
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The hero, who chose to remain anonymous, admitted that there were probably more hands collecting garbage when the marathon route was on city streets. However, they feel that the Stanley Park Seawall should’ve been cleaned up on the same day because of the wildlife, trash getting in the water, and it being a tourist hotspot.
“Biking the Stanley Park Seawall is like the number one tourist activity here, so it really is the face of the city.”
They also shared videos and pictures of the amount of garbage he collected. Based on some of the things he picked up, you can tell these items may have been left behind by runners, like Huma Chia Energy Gel.
Did you notice a lot of garbage left behind in #Vancouver after the marathon?
Just spoke to a local hero who spent hours cleaning it up. pic.twitter.com/MrelxsHmrU
— Amir Ali ⌨️☕️🏴☠️ (@AmirsDoingItAll) May 6, 2025
In a video they posted online, addressed to the City of Vancouver and the park board, they said gel packets were everywhere, even in the water.
When we asked why they did it, the answer was simple.
“I saw how many gel packs there were on the evening after the marathon, and if I came the next day and it hadn’t been cleaned up, I would do it. Because it had to be done.”
They added that the area is their favourite casual walk spot, and they hated seeing it in such bad condition.
“I had the picker already, because I did some cleanup on Earth Day a couple of weeks back, on the side of Highway 99 through Stanley Park.”
In a post the Good Samaritan made on Instagram, many applauded them for their service.
“THANK YOU for doing this.. runners disrespecting the local environment.”
Someone else said, “Wow that’s terrible, thank you for doing that. The participants should do better.”
A quick Vancouver garbage history lesson
Accumulating garbage near the Coal Harbour seawall in downtown Vancouver. (Margarita Young/Shutterstock)
This isn’t the first time Vancouver residents have been irked by garbage left behind. In May 2023, during one of the first hot summer weekends, English Bay was left in quite a state, with trash strewn across the sand.
A spokesperson for the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation essentially verified what one Redditor claimed, that Park Board crews, along with City Sanitation, “were out from daybreak on Sunday to return parks and beaches to a safe and hygienic standard for all users and prevent debris from spreading into communities and the sea, or becoming an attractant to wildlife.”
“While we thank everyone who disposed of their garbage properly, we were really disappointed to see such an incredible amount of garbage, including food, packaging and BBQ equipment, left on the city’s beautiful public spaces.”
We also sometimes see commotion on social media after other major Vancouver events, like the Honda Celebration of Lights. Although in recent years, cleanup crews have done a good job of keeping our beaches clean following those events.
Update:
The park board told Daily Hive that cleanup was a coordinated effort between race organizers, park board operations and sanitation services. A third-party contractor named Green Chair Recycling was also hired to manage litter and recyclables along the race route.
“On Sunday, additional Park Operations staff worked from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. to collect litter along the seawall after the event. To accommodate the increased waste, additional garbage and recycling stations were installed in Stanley Park. Green Chair Recycling handled the cleanup at the Half-Marathon stations while the race organizer’s team managed the Marathon stations within the park,” the board told Daily Hive.
“The BMO Vancouver Marathon is dedicated to being an environmentally friendly event, with a focus on reducing waste and promoting recycling. Runners and spectators are encouraged to dispose of items such as cups, gel packs, and wrappers at designated stations, rather than along the course. Unfortunately, it appears that some litter was left behind on the route. Organizers will use this feedback to improve planning for future events.”
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