Municipalities are getting on board to combat illegal dumping.
The province and the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) are relying on the success of the Town of Conception Bay South, who fought back against illegal dumpers with a successful enforcement and surveillance program.
Now seven communities, including Grand Falls-Windsor, will benefit from the Illegal Dumping Surveillance Program. It will provide seven communities throughout the province with enforcement training and education, surveillance equipment and installation; and access to enforcement experts.
The new program will provide municipalities with the tools, support and training necessary to implement effective illegal dumping surveillance and enforcement programs within their own communities.
In Grand Falls-Windsor, the Illegal Dumping Surveillance Program Information session takes place on Feb. 28, 7 p.m. at the town hall.
According to Environment and Conservation Minister Tom Hedderson, the potential environmental impacts of illegal dumping are significant, posing a serious threat to plants and wildlife in local ecosystems.
The goal of the Illegal Dumping Surveillance Program is to establish a team of illegal dumping experts and build increased capacity to deal with the issue throughout the province.
“They’re presenting some of their findings they had in relation to indiscriminate dumping, and CBS has offered their enforcement officer, who did a fair bit of work and they caught some people,” said Town Engineer Jeff Saunders. “This will be for us (councillors and staff), plus surrounding communities.”
Like CBS, Grand Falls-Windsor now has surveillance cameras. However, said Saunders, the town will not disclose exactly where they are.
“We haven’t caught anyone yet, but we do realize in the so-called ‘normal’ areas where we’ve experienced indiscriminate dumping in the past, there’s been a noticeable difference. It’s not so bad,” said Saunders.
The town has enough options for people, he added, to get rid of their garbage – regular curbside pickup, Saturday drop-off, and the landfill site at Norris Arm North.
“It’s not like people don’t have a choice,” he said. “They don’t need to take it to the closest area and leave their garbage.”
