A large illegal dump site containing enough residential waste to fill a dump truck was discovered off a Forest Service Road near Carlson Point, north of Sechelt, on May 19, according to a report from the BC Conservation Officer Service (COS).
The volume of waste — typically destined for the SCRD municipal landfill — suggests that a commercial-sized dump truck or trailer was involved, said Sgt. Dean Miller of the COS.
The report highlights that conservation officers investigate hundreds of illegal dump sites on Crown Land across B.C. each year, aiming to reduce pollution in forested areas, said Miller.
Miller highlighted the severity of the issue on the Coast, “The Sunshine Coast has a disproportionately high percentage of illegal dumping incidents in the province,” Miller said. “It seems to be an unfortunate cultural issue here.”
He added that, “The only way to address the volume of waste that is being dumped in the forest is through community collaboration and applied enforcement.”
Recognizing the need for heavy equipment to clean up the site, Miller contacted Aaron Joe, owner/operator of Salish Soils.
The report notes that Joe, a member of shíshálh Nation and an outdoor enthusiast, promptly offered staff and machinery to assist with the cleanup.
COS continues to investigate this and other illegal dumping cases in the region, said Miller. Anyone with information is urged to contact the 24/7 Report All Polluters and Poachers Call Center at 1-877-952-7277.
Jordan Copp is Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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