More people are illegally dumping their garbage as residents choose to bypass the curbside collection program and the Thornhill transfer station and drive to remote areas to leave their rubbish.
Illegal dumping has been going on for a long time but has been increasing since the closure of both the city and Thornhill landfills and the opening of the transfer station, says the local conservation office.
It’s difficult to give a specific number or percentage for how much illegal dumping has increased, but it’s noticeable, said conservation officer Scott Senkiw.
And it’s noticeable to other residents who are making more calls to conservation officers to complain about garbage they see dumped, sometimes close to residences.
One area of particular concern is Williams Creek where people have dumped garbage into the water and along the hillside above.
“This is probably one of the worst [places] I have ever seen,” said Senkiw about the area, located about 1-1.5 km up the Williams Creek Forest Service Road.
“It’s bad to begin with but it’s right in a salmon-bearing habitat,” said Senkiw.
Some of the items included a pizza box, cola bottle, bottle of lotion for eczema, and two apples that looked ready to eat.
Along that same road, a car is located down the embankment along the side of the road above the creek – Senkiw says the car has been there since last fall. Next to the car is an appliance and a large plastic container.
The city landfill and Thornhill landfills were closed down last year to the public when Forceman Ridge, the new multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art landfill facility was opened.
Forceman Ridge is not open to the public to encourage people to use the curbside collection programs.
New waste bins were given out to regional district and city residents for the curbside program which was updated to a new truck that picks up the bins and dumps them into the truck, freeing up the waste management staff from having to pick them up to dump into the truck.
There are also separate bins given out to residents’ homes for recycling and organics, also picked up by the curbside collection programs according to a schedule which varies depending on where you live.
Alternately, residents can go to the Thornhill transfer station, open to the public on three days a week, to drop off their garbage for a $10 fee; however, it’s looking like there are people who don’t want to pay even that amount.
“I think once people start seeing how bad it is, they might keep a sharper eye out for things,” said Senkiw.
“If you see a truck with garbage bags in it go into the bush, they’re not likely coming out with them.”
A key point conservation officers want people to know is the type of garbage being dumped is often toxic items like paint cans, and while conservation officers are dealing with illegal garbage dumping, it keeps them from doing the work they’re supposed to be doing.
Complaints about illegal dumping have been ramped up too, with many of them being about Williams Creek, added Senkiw.
“It says ‘Beautiful British Columbia’ right on the licence plate. I would hope that people would take a little more pride and positive ownership of this place,” said Senkiw.
The area may be remote from humans but its right in bear habitat and sooner or later bears will be out there eating the garbage.
“It’s amazing what people can do and sleep at night,” said Senkiw.
Local residents have a chance to clean up the dump sites and other litter and debris around the area at this Sunday’s annual garbathon by gathering at noon at the Lakelse Ave. McDonald’s parking lot.
People can either pick a location or have one assigned.
The garbathon is sponsored by the Great Terrace Beautification Society, SkeenWild and the City of Terrace.
A barbecue follows at 4 p.m. at George Little Park.
