Toothless on illegal dumping

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Garbage dumped in Carmi Forest.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen needs more tools to combat illegal dumping, according to one of its directors.

The board received a presentation Thursday raising concerns on the speed of cleaning up illegal dump sites and lack of punishments for offenders.

Area D director Tom Siddon declared that illegal dumping should be met with straight-forward punishments.

"It seems we use a system of voluntary compliance, and we pay money to support this service," he said. "We're trying to nurture people to behave more responsibly - why don't we take them to court?"

Cameron Baughen, the regional district's solid waste coordinator, said that the RDOS has no authority to fine or charge anyone for illegal dumping.

"We provide that information to the conservation officer service, and they proceed with their own litigation," he said, adding that the courts have a very high standard for proving guilt in illegal dumping.

In terms of cleaning up illegal dump sites, the RDOS said there isn't enough resources for all of them to be cleaned up in a timely matter.

"RDOS staff do catalogue sites and attempt to do clean ups in quieter times in the spring and fall when seasonal employees can assist," the report stated.

Baughen said that nearly every road-end in the regional district has seen illegal dumping, adding that it was commonplace 30 to 40 years ago for some residents to drive into the outskirts of town and dump off their waste.

One thing that hasn't changed, Baughen said, is that the problem is caused by a small segment of society.

Discussion on dealing with illegal dumping will continue at the Oct. 5th RDOS meeting.

Baughen said representatives from the Penticton Indian Band and South Okanagan Trail Alliance have been invited to share their concerns on the issue.