Illegal Dumping Plagues Rural Property
Skeletal remains of a cow, and a hot tub, just a couple of the items dumped on a rural property -photos 250news
Prince George, B.C. – Illegal dumping, it is something rural residents have been worried about ever since the Regional District of Fraser Fort George announced it would be introducing a dumping fee at the Foothills Landfill.
While only $6 bucks per average pick up load (extra weight costs more, and the price is doubled for a load that is not secured), there were real concerns folks would stop taking their stuff to the landfill, and would, instead, start dumping it in rural areas.
That’s exactly what’s happening to a property at the end of Discovery Road, just north of Prince George.
“I’ve seen so many vehicles coming down this road, you would think there was a Tim Horton’s at the end of it,” says one area resident .
What is at the end of that road is a mess.
Someone had dumped a freezer on the north side of the road, while on the southside, dumped items include a hot tub, bear guts, appliances, and the skeletal remains of a cow. All dumped on private property.
Unfortunately, if the property owner decides to clean up the property and hauls the stuff to the landfill, they won’t be getting any breaks in the fees. They will have to pay the price per appliance and load weight, hardly an incentive to clean up an area.
Is the dumping a reaction to the introduction of fees at the Foothills Landfill? That's hard to say. One would think that if there is more illegal dumping going on, the tonnage of materials being delivered to the Foothills site would be down but, the Regional District cannot say if there is any real change in loads of materials arriving at the Foothills site since the fee was initiated last September. The tonnage is about the same, but the actual breakdown on what makes up the tonnage isn’t something staff at the landfill track, so it isn’t known if the tonnage is the same because of construction waste, or if residents are still delivering the same amount they had in the past. Having said that, it was just a little over a month ago, the Regional District called on area residents to get back on track on what is acceptable at the transfer stations because people were leaving large and prohibited items at the transfer stations. ( see photo at right)
It’s the Ministry of the Environment that has the teeth to deal with those who illegally dump their garbage. But, you have to catch a person first. That’s why people are encouraged to contact the 24/7 RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) Line. It is a toll free tip-line and web-based service that allows you to report known or suspected violations of fisheries, wildlife, or environmental protection laws – anonymously and without risk of confronting the offender.
The number is 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP) or #7277 on the TELUS Mobility Network.
The complaint will be either sent to the Convervation Officers Service for enforcement, or to the Environmental Protection side if its an issue that requires clean up or remediation .
Sergeant Rory Smith of the Conservation Oficers Service says the Discovery Road site is not the only one his team is aware of in Prince George "There are numerous sites, illegal dumping goes on daily and it happens along logging roads, rural roads, anywhere where people think they won't be seen" He says the items typically dumped are appliances and dead animals along with regular household garbage.
"We do track these sites, we do patrols, and we are looking at other ways to catch the offenders" says Sgt Smith.
Still, there is no solution for the property owner who is now saddled with the costs of trying to clean up the debris and eliminating public access to his property.
Comments
Native band out past the end of North Nechako Road I see has a patrol out now stopping vehicles going into that area checking for illegal dumping, because its become a big problem for them too.
There are a lot of disgusting, lazy people out there. If disposing of your garbage is such a hardship you shouldn’t be buying the crap in the first place.
If we are not careful PG will turn into another Prince Rupert; Behind every green bush there is garbage. And that’s because the city charges for every trip over the dump scales, like 2 buxs, or more,for one garbage bag.
I feel for the people who keep having garbage dumped on their land , but the blame should be on the city of PG . we pay enough every month for garbage, Then we are forced into driving all over to drop of a bag of garbage , what happened to the swap sheds , I guess it worked so they got rid of it . Prince George is a dump city anyway , drive through the hood take a look at our fine city at work what a joke .It would be my pleasure to take the people who come to the winter games and show them the area that was once PG’s finest .
It was said when teh dumping fee was implimented that this would happen…
they said no way,
I said yes way
and by the way
it is way.
will they change it…
with our wish washy city council who knows.
No more line ups at the dump. A whole lot of back patting what a great move they made.
Posted by: Fedup2014 on June 25 2014 6:16 AM
I feel for the people who keep having garbage dumped on their land , but the blame should be on the city of PG. we pay enough every month for garbage,
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Nonsense. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? It is a small minority of selfish people with a bizarre sense of entitlement who are creating the problem. Most reasonable adults understand that the by-products or our disposable society don’t disappear by themselves.
Set up a game cam at the end of the road and start an online shame campaign. I know if one of my employees pictures showed up unloading garbage in the country it would definitely affect his “future growth”
A private landowner who has to get dumped garbage cleaned up should be able to get a certification from the Regional District to haul it to the dump for no fees.
Also, the ecotax fees we now pay for so many things, should be exempt from further fees for dumping. Otherwise the ecotax should be dropped. That’s what we paid the ecotax for.
bcracer: You were right and not alone. A lot of people said the same thing. Illegal dumping was going on, to a lesser amount, before the fees were instituted. Now you can’t drive down any rural road without seeing garbage dumped everywhere.
But of course, the bright minds had to win out and now look what we’ve got.
In the spring we clean up the garbage that has been dumped in our area and then race to get to the dumpsters that are set up once a year before they are overflowing. Maybe the city should have a “spring cleanup” more than once a year.
There is no doubt what so ever this is the cities fault, now go clean up all the crap and get rid of the charge at the dump. This is the worst disaster I have ever seen happen to this city. And it will cost a fortune to clean it up.
the whole bush is full of garbage from discovery to the teardrop and the scales before the dump. The people are pigs and should be posted on facebook the paper the news etc when and if they are caught. classless scum. I am still pissed about the dumping fees etc but to resort to side road dumping omg idiots
The city really goofed on this one. They should be encourageing people to come to the dump. This has to be revisited by the city.
No charges.
Interceptor— I know for certain the CO’s do have some game camera’s out there. Now if they would expose the culprets & their stiff fines the dumping in rural areas would would slow down.
People are disgusting to dump their garbage in the woods. A hot tub, freezer, animal remains would have been subject to additional fees not just the measly $6 a load due to the size ( of the hot tub), the contaminates ( Freezer)
http://www.rdffg.bc.ca/services/environment/solid-waste-management/landfills/controlled-waste,
Cattle carcasses are not accepted at the dump.
http://www.rdffg.bc.ca/services/environment/solid-waste-management/landfills/prohibited-materials.
Just saying the $6 fee is not the reason those items were dumped. There was dumping for years, the same people are still dumping.
The picture of the transfer station in this article is the Norman Lake transfer station, which is near Bednesti. Those residents will not travel to PG to dump their waste that is what the transfer station is and again some people blatantly disregard the regulations. Norman Lake transfer station has always been inundated with large waste.
Do those people who get garbage dumped on their property get forced to do a clean up?
It is a problem in town too. Had some dumped between a few houses, got a license plate and everything and all they can say – city and RCMP – is that it is now your garbage. If you like you can take them to small claims court and pay the 150 fee or whatever it is, or just take it to the dump for them and pay the six bucks they were too cheap to pay.
At the Bon Voyage they have newspaper and cardboard dumpsters. A new sign has been added saying. “Don’t dump your garbage here”. Who knew, eh?
No fear I am sure the highly skilled bearucrates are working on a solution right now. I have faith!
Used to be if I was going to town and stopping to drop off garbage at the Foothills landfill and take a boo about the swapshed – I’d ask my neighbour if they wanted any of their garbage hauled…and vice versa, if they were heading in they’d take mine. We don’t do that anymore with the fees that are now charged.
We could use the transfer station out our way – if we could keep track of what days it’s open. Mondays it opens&closes early. Wed/Thurs is doesn’t open at all. I wish it had the same hours as the Foothills landfill 7-5 winter 7-7 summer – make the times consistent across all of the transfer stations & landfill.
We don’t produce that much garbage in a week, enough so that we only need to drop it off once a month. But if we have too many bags the keeper at the transfer station strongly encourages going to Foothills so we don’t “fill up” the transfer bin.
The Regional District (who runs the dump, and not the City as many of you suggest) is trying to reward the best behaviour, not the average behaviour. The best behaviour is producing so little garbage that you don’t need the landfill drop-off service at at all. The average behaviour is taking a load to the dump every once in a while and paying for that service when you need it. The worst behaviour is illegal dumping.
If people are illegally dumping, the best response is to punish the bad behaviour (enforcement), not reward the average behaviour and unfairly diadvantage the best behaviour. I shouldn’t have to pay for your garbage.
City Council in their wisdom shut down the garbage facility on 18th avenue. This was supposed to mean a $260,000.00 per year savings for the City.
It may be a savings to the City, but it was a cost to people who used this facility, and who now have to drive to the Foothills Garbage dump, (still pay $6.00) to dispose of their excess garbage.
We paid for the 18th Avenue facility, and it was working fine. People used it all the time, and they also used the swap shop.
Who at City Hall came up with the idea to shut down this facility????
Did they shut it down, along with the swap shop, and the Sani dump, because of a real need, or did it coincidently have something to do with the City bulding its new office buildings adjacent to these facilities,. Perhaps they did not want the attendant smells wafting into their new digs.
Whatever the reason, the City should re-open the 18th street facility, reduce the fee to $4.00 and get on with solving problems in this City instead of creating them.
Palopu, the Quinn St Station now belongs to the Regional District who makes decisions about its operation. not sure what teh reasoning for teh transfer of ownership was, but I think its because the Regional District operates all of teh other landfill services in the area. I would agree that it would be nice to have the garbage service back there.
There is no need for a transfer station in the bowl, every house has residential garbage pick up on a weekly basis. The Foothills dump and Vanway transfer station are in reasonable driving distance from anywhere in the city for an occasional trip for excess trash.
The swap sheds were a good idea but there were people hanging around on a consistent basis fighting like crows over things that were dropped off so they could sell them at a garage sale. It just became more trouble than it was worth.
If Quinn Street were ever to reopen then the drop off charge should cover all operating costs be it 10 or 12 bucks. Want the convenience then pay the price.
Apparently Eagleone is still taking his “dates” to the end of North Nechako. Stay classy.
My brother just went to the dump with 6 bags of lawn clippings. They weighed between 40-50 pounds. The attendant told him they were gonna charge him $12 because he didn’t have straps. Then they told him if it’s lawn clippings dump them in the forest. Or he could drive home strap the garbage and drive back to the dump
My brother just went to the dump with 6 bags of lawn clippings. They weighed between 40-50 pounds. The attendant told him they were gonna charge him $12 because he didn’t have straps. Then they told him if it’s lawn clippings dump them in the forest. Or he could drive home strap the garbage and drive back to the dump
The Swap Shed offered junky things to junky people. If I were running the Dump I wouldn’t want those folks hanging around either.
And for the issue at hand, it is a $6 fee, it’s peanuts, grow up rednecks!
Posted by: Summit on June 25 2014 11:12 AM
And for the issue at hand, it is a $6 fee, it’s peanuts, grow up rednecks!
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I don’t mind paying the fee on the few occasions I need the service but I refuse to grow up! :)
Junky people? wouldn’t want those folks hanging around?
That is part of the problem, the arrogance of the fortunate expecting the less fortunate to have resources.
Take off those rose glasses and have a look into reality for the most, not the few.
Only in America can be told a story about Arlo, Officer Obie and finding an envelope with Arlo’s name on it under half a ton of garbage. Methinks the RDFFG folks should be put on the bench with Group W.
The subjective look that you get from the person at the gate looking over your load for proper tie downs is ridiculous. The goal of the exercise is to get them same amount to the dump that left your driveway. I had a load in my truck and the guy was going to charge me double because he could only see one strap. There were 5 of them. I made him get out of the shed and look from all sides.
“Methinks the RDFFG folks should be put on the bench with Group W.”
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Give them plenty of pencils to play with.
Went to the dump on Sunday with 1/2 dozen boxes of old blankets and junk… $10. Total BS! Next time I need to purge some stuff it’s going on City Halls front lawn. I already pay taxes + “Utilities” which is supposed to pay for my garbage to be dealt with.
Comment Posted by: Fedup2014 on June 25 2014 6:16 AM
I feel for the people who keep having garbage dumped on their land , but the blame should be on the city of PG . we pay enough every month for garbage, Then we are forced into driving all over to drop of a bag of garbage , what happened to the swap sheds , I guess it worked so they got rid of it . Prince George is a dump city anyway , drive through the hood take a look at our fine city at work what a joke .It would be my pleasure to take the people who come to the winter games and show them the area that was once PG’s finest .
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Ya, lets blame someone else because those FN MORONS are dumping their garbage somewhere other than where it should be. One aspect of the problem we face on this planet are comments just like that!
summit wrote
And for the issue at hand, it is a $6 fee, it’s peanuts, grow up rednecks!
$ 6 bucks for a us pensioners is not chump change,,,on Wednesday my wife of 47 years and I can dine at Burger King and have a whopper each for less than 5 bucks!! 6 bucks is not peanuts to us and many more like us.
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