People who dump their garbage in isolated parts of the rural areas are probably not as anonymous as they think.
Maude Mackey, the Zero Waste compliance Officer Maude Mackey made the comments in light of two arrests made in Nanaimo over illegal dumping in the rural areas this week.
The Regional District of Nanaimo laid illegal dumping bylaw charges against two Nanaimo residents in unrelated illegal dumping incidents.
In both cases, she said, materials were dumped in RDN electoral areas.
On or about May 30, Richard Sitar is alleged to have caused or permitted municipal solid waste and/or recyclable material to be deposited on land not within a licensed waste disposal facility.
As well, Nanaimo resident Nikki Deer is alleged to have caused municipal solid waste and/or recyclable material to be deposited on land not within a licensed waste disposal facility.
Both of the accused were scheduled for a first appearance in Nanaimo Provincial Court on December 4, 2012 but both failed to attend. Bench warrants have now been issued for the accused.
Illegal dumping in areas outside the Regional District municipalities is liable for a fine not exceeding $200,000.
Mackey said she was unable to give details of exactly what was dumped or in which rural area, as the matter is before the courts.
She noted that garbage dumping in the rural areas is an ongoing problem and while it has eased up somewhat in recent years, it remains an issue of concern.
“It’s not unique to Nanaimo,” she said. “It’s everywhere. It’s improving, but all we’ll ever really be able to do is manage it.”
Fortunately, she said, the RDN gets significant help from members of the pubic, who also don’t want to see the countryside littered with other peoples garbage.
“We have people who watch and report, especially in the rural areas,” she said. “There’s hikers, bikers and ATV riders and the like.”