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Garbage dumping: community looking for options

A community member had been a leisurely stroll with their dog recently, when just before the Mt. Dickinson Trail, they were greeted.

Barbara Latkowski

Caledonia Courier

A community member had been a leisurely stroll with their dog recently, when just before the Mt. Dickinson Trail, they were greeted by a horrific odor.

A pile of garbage had been strewn all over including fish waste.

“This poses a bear threat to the community members in the area. It is absolutely disgusting,” said Christine Deverson who had been taking her dog out for a walk that day.

“We have a waste transfer station that is open 7 days a week and is free for the public to use, not to mention door to door garbage pickup. Throwing your trash over the bank is unacceptable.”

According to the District of Fort St. James, there are no current by-laws in place regarding illegal waste disposal but this situation is currently being looked into as well as clean-up options.

According to the Fort St. James RCMP, there are no current bylaws for illegal dumping and that this this area in particular, is known as Crown Land.

“The Ministry of Forests covers logging roads etc. and this is where we might find enforcement options,” RCMP Sgt. Poppy Hallam said.

“The Forest Recreation Regulation has fines for illegal disposal of litter, Sec.9 with a fine of $86 or dispose of game Sec.10 also with a $86 fine.”

Louise Evans-Salt from the G.U.F. Society of Fort St. James says that it’s all about education.

“Education is vital,” Evans-Salt said. “If everyone learns more about it than they can in turn become more responsible in waste-management and recycling.”

“Something needs to be done,” Deverson said.

“Not only to have this mess cleaned up but also to prevent it from reoccurring in the future.”