Amid the foliage and natural beauty found around Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 many forested areas, piles of trash are also a common sight.
香蕉视频直播淚llegal dumping is on the rise at the moment and growing fast,香蕉视频直播 said Kane Blake of the Okanagan Forest Task Force.
香蕉视频直播淭he task force香蕉视频直播檚 goal is simple, working to keep our forests clean and to bring public awareness to the issue of illegal dumping and its impact on forested areas.香蕉视频直播
The increase in dumping could be attributed to, as Blake describes them, 香蕉视频直播渘on-reputable haulers香蕉视频直播 commissioned for spring cleaning waste, but another likely culprit is the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blake said as the sequestered population finds themselves without much to do besides tidying their property, the wait at the landfill is getting increasingly arduous.
香蕉视频直播淲e have been doing more yard work recently and spent about 35 minutes in the line up just last week,香蕉视频直播 Blake said. 香蕉视频直播淎 simple Facebook search shows lots of people looking to hire people for dump runs but the real question is how much of it is actually making it to the landfill.香蕉视频直播
Amid the pandemic, the task force has had to halt its frequent clean-ups, but Blake is hopeful to get back to business relatively soon.
香蕉视频直播淚 just hate to see our beautiful forests turning into landfills from ignorant people being too lazy to go to the landfill.香蕉视频直播
Kelowna-based conservation officer, Terry Myroniuk, said now is usually the time of year they begin to see an increase in complaints about illegal dumping.
香蕉视频直播淧ersonally from what I香蕉视频直播檝e seen, it appears like about a 50 per cent increase,香蕉视频直播 said Myroniuk, adding he didn香蕉视频直播檛 know the exact numbers.
Crown land and the back roads leading to it are the hardest hit, according to Myroniuk. Areas such as Beaver Lake Road, Postill Lake Road and Smith Creek Road, were three areas he mentioned specifically as popular spots.
A whole RV dumped in James Lake was recently reported to BC Conservation, said Myroniuk.
An old RV dumped at James Lake, leaking fluid into the water. (Contributed) |
The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO), which handles most of the clean-up and field complaints regarding improper dumping, said as the pandemic continues it香蕉视频直播檚 been harder for them to send people to clean them up.
香蕉视频直播淭hose that can be tackled, will be tackled as soon as possible,香蕉视频直播 said RDCO waste reduction facilitator Rae Stewart.
Stewart said the RDCO is counting on residents to report illegal dumping when they see it.
香蕉视频直播淧eople recreating in the bush, playing in the bush 香蕉视频直播 those people are our eyes and ears,香蕉视频直播 she said.
The RDCO has an online reporting tool on its website that allows residents to remain anonymous. You can also call the waste reduction office at
READ MORE: Illegal dumping up Postill Lake Road in Kelowna
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