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All taxpayers pay the price of illegal dumping

Trail's public works manager says that illegal dumping is all over the place and it's the taxpayers that foot the bill.
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On Tuesday

Trail's public works manager has a message for those who dump illegally in the Silver City.

"You think you got away with it, but you have just shared the cost with your neighbours and everybody else.”

Larry Abenante said that illegal dumping is all over the place because people don't want to pay to get rid of waste at the landfill.

“So, the city gets the complaint calls, and we have to send two people and a loader,” he explained.

“Who pays, well it is all of us, the taxpayers.”

On Tuesday, the city pulled its concrete barrier at Miral Heights Park, after sending crews out yet again, to deal with a large mass of illegal dumping in the ravine.

Now, taxpayers will foot the bill to add a 60-foot chain link extension to the already existing fence, in hopes to curb the stealthy discarding of waste, that ranges from plastic bags filled with garbage, vegetable scraps, and other yard waste.

“It's not that expensive to take your refuse to the landfill yourself,” said Abenante.

“So now, the city is picking up your garbage and paying for it by the ton. But really, in the end, you are paying for it anyway.”

In efforts to support clean up in Greater Trail, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) offers an incentive to community groups who do care about sanitation and the appearance of river banks, parks and highways.

“We waive the tipping fees at the landfill for community groups participating in community clean up,” said Tim Dueck, RDKB's solid waste coordinator.

“We have been doing this for years and it is supported by the board with a standing policy.”

Dueck said that the only requirement, other than being a community group, is that the materials have to be sorted according to the RDKB's landfill requirements.

“We think it's a great opportunity for citizens to get out there and raise awareness in the greater community about where refuse should go, and how it should be treated,” explained Dueck.

“We believe that raising awareness and getting kids involved, is what it is going to take in the long run for people to understand the system and their responsibilities within the community.”



Sheri Regnier

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