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Illegal dumping not just an eyesore

Cleaning up garbage cost more than $15,000 in 2015


Walk through the Squamish Estuary or head into the local backcountry and along with the smell of fresh rain and the signs of various wildlife are the occasional mounds of garbage: A rusting barbecue and rotting couch here, a discarded tabletop and boxing bag there. 

Illegal dumping is not a new problem in the District of Squamish. Mayor Patricia Heintzman recalls writing stories about the problem when she was a reporter at The Squamish Chief in the early 1990s. 

“And it is still an issue,” she recently said. “There’s always going to be people who have a complete disrespect for our natural environment, who don’t take responsibility for their own waste and who are outliers within society. It is unfortunate, but it happens.” 

The issue is not just an eyesore; it costs taxpayers an increasing amount of money per year. So far in 2016, illegal dumping has cost the district $9,294, according to district figures. In 2015 the district shelled out $15,171 to deal with the trash, up from $11,713 in 2014. In 2013 the district spent $4,700 dealing with the problem.

It is next to impossible to police people dumping in hidden spots or in the middle of the of night, Heintzman acknowledged, but added there is no excuse for the behaviour.

“If you have a pickup truck and you can afford the cost of gas in your truck, you can afford to bring stuff to the landfill and dispose of it properly,” she said.

District of Squamish operations staff will pick up items illegally dumped on its property, but not from private land, according to district staff. To report illegal dumping, call 604-815-6868 (604-815-4040 after hours if it is an emergency).

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