The inaugural backroad trash bash, held on May 26, helped to put a small dent in the illegal dumping problem on the Sunshine Coast.
More than 55 hardy volunteers representing the ATV Club, Conservation Office, BC Parks, Forestry Service, Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) staff and interested residents tackled more than 20 sites between Gibsons and Sechelt with a focus on the Chapman and Gray Creek watersheds.
SCRD manager of sustainable services Dion Whyte said a total of 14 tonnes of material, which filled three and a half 40-yard roll bins at the Field Road office, was pulled out of the illegal dump sites.
"We don't have the complete break down of items yet, but one of the bins was filled with metal, one with wood and the other with other recycling that has to be sorted out properly," he said. "The day before we had works crews out as well and they loaded up two dump trucks with dumped waste from the watershed and we probably had a dozen pick-up trucks during the Saturday event that went to the landfill. For a first-time event, staff is very happy with the turnout and what we were able to accomplish. It really hits you when you see it all. Just a few hours ago, that was all laying in the bush."
The SCRD has been tackling the illegal dumping issue for several years now. The Good Samaritan program pays the tipping fees for any volunteer group that goes out to do a clean-up, and two years ago, the SCRD launched its illegal dumpsite inventory which has mapped out more than 200 illegal dump sites on the Coast.
The trash bash event was modelled after a successful program that has been running through the regional district in Powell River.
"We learned a lot from their program and we're happy to see the results that we got here. It has started small, but we see this as an annual event that can only get bigger," White said. "Many people who came out have provided us with nothing but positive feedback. Some were surprised to see the huge problem we have with illegal dumping. It was certainly eye-opening for many."
