Imagine this: it’s a crisp early fall morning and you are out for a hike in one of the many beautiful trails the Sunshine Coast has to offer. The air has a slight nip to it and the leaves crackle under your feet as you venture in to the tall treed West Coast rainforest. As you come around a corner, you are shocked by what stands before you: A big, brown old sofa off to the side of the trail. Does this sound familiar to you?
Unfortunately, this is a reality here on the Coast. While many of us love and appreciate the outdoor environment, there appears to be a few people who do not share these feelings and take advantage of the remote landscape to get rid of garbage.
According to conservation officers Dean Miller and Murray Smith, the Sunshine Coast has a growing issue with municipal waste being dumped on regional and Crown lands. The Conservation Officer Service (COS) investigates these waste dumps and charges individuals or companies responsible.
You may be wondering why someone does it. The typical reason for an individual to dump garbage in the forest is financial as one can save the dump fees and gas it takes to get their waste to the Sechelt landfill.
The COS has sought community support from shared stakeholders to address this issue. The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) and COS are currently developing response protocols to identified dumpsites for investigations and cleanup. This includes the successful annual Trash Bash, which took place last Saturday, Sept. 13, in addition to a local volunteer group who responds to illegal dumping cleanup. The COS has also launched a local remote camera program to increase the ability to identify potential offenders.
The COS relies on the public to be vigilant around this issue and use the reporting line, which is a 24/7 live dispatch that will take information from callers regarding matters of pollution or poaching: 1-877-952-7277.
Together, we can help put an end to this problem and enjoy only what nature intended for us when we hit the trails on the Sunshine Coast.
Until next time, see you out there!
