A garbage-strewn mess

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

A Penticton resident was shocked and disgusted to find piles of garbage in a pull out off of Highway 97 this week.

Nikita Kiceluk said she was driving to Summerland with her mother to do some geocaching, an outdoor treasure hunting game, and their first stop was the pullout, north of the Sage Mesa Drive turn off.

As they embarked on the game, which uses GPS enabled devices, they came across the garbage.

"It was bags of actual garbage, undergarments, lots of fast food containers and auto parts," she said. "We were both disgusted and ashamed that it had gotten this bad and that no one seems to be doing anything about it."

Adding to her dismay, there wasn't a garbage can or recycling container anywhere in sight.

Kiceluk said the fact she just graduated with a degree in fitness and health promotion, made the find even more appalling.

She said that even if she came out with a garbage bag, she wouldn't be able to do the clean up herself.

Her hope is that something happens, whether its volunteers or those responsible for the area coming out to clean it up, before the snow falls.

In addition, she would like garbage cans or recycling containers to be placed at the location.

"There's obviously a proven need," she said. "Say you were a couple just visiting from Germany and you pulled over and this is what you saw. It's gross, because it's a beautiful, scenic area."

According to the Ministry of Transportation, the responsibility falls on the local road contractor.

Employees at Argo Road Maintenance have been alerted and said they will schedule a time to clean it up.