It’s an age-old problem that continues to frustrate residents and government alike.
The Electoral Area Advisory Committee has asked the Safe Communities Unit to investigate ways to deal with people who continue to break the law and dump garbage in rural areas.
In a recent case, the Regional District of North Okanagan was forced to clean up an illegal dump site in the BX at the end of Hartnell Road.
“Everyone pays for the stupidity of one person,” said BX-Silver Star director Mike Macnabb.
Hear, hear. Although it’s likely not just one person and we all know it’s not just one site in particular as there are other problem areas, including off Mabel Lake Road in rural Enderby.
The fact that it is unsightly is bad enough but there are risks to wildlife, a potential for wildfire and safety hazards to other humans, all because someone never learned the golden rule in kindergarten – clean up after yourself.
Certainly laws and fines are a must (although very difficult to enforce for various reasons), and maybe security patrols and surveillance cameras in certain trouble spots may be worth considering, but mostly it comes down to personal responsibility.
The landfill is cheap and accessible and open longer during the summer, please use it. The once-a-week garbage service that many receive should be utilized and appreciated.
Most of us are good community stewards and have no intention of taking the easy way out when it comes to the disposal of garbage. We wish the Safe Communities Unit good luck in finding a way to make it not so easy for those who continue to refuse to do the right thing.
