Illegal dumping has become a town-wide problem, with increasing maintenance costs over the past three years.
Limited hours, increased fees, and long wait lines at the local transfer station have played a part in the increase of garbage dumped on rural roads. COVID-19 hasn't helped, with more people staying at home accumulating more waste.
In last week's Committee of the Whole meeting, council authorized staff to purchase a $25,000 litter vacuum from Exprolink/Madvac, funded through the town's Capital Expenditure Reserve, to help collect the trash.
"It's a portable pull behind, with a 50-foot hose, and goes into the areas where we can pick up a lot of litter," explained Deputy Mayor James Leduc.
Currently, the town has one staff member to collect garbage dumped in rural areas. Items collected range from bagged household garbage and recyclables to furniture, electronics, hazardous waste, construction debris, and dirt.
Typically, trash and dirt are picked up by hand with a backhoe or loader. As per the staff report presented to council, larger items are easier to collect, can be loaded using equipment without much physical labour or direct contact. Household bagged trash and litter on the other hand cause a number of issues for staff.
The cleaning up of loose garbage is labour-intensive and poses health and safety concerns for staff exposed to unknown substances when handling disposed of items. There is also a risk of injury from repetitive physical exertion and handling of broken materials such as glass, wood or metal hidden in trash bags.
Between 2018 and 2020, the town saw a 25 percent increase in the annual cost of litter collection, including staff time and dumping fees. In 2018, the costs associated with the collection was $86,400. In 2019 it costed $87,606 and in 2020 was $107,762. It is expected that the cost for this year will far surpass that of previous years, for an estimated $185,000 if current trends continue.
"It's really concerning that we have more litter on our rural roads," said Leduc, adding that he has brought the concerns forward to the county.
"That's what happens when we get in these pandemics...people don't want to wait at the transfer station," he said.
"It's too bad that we have to do this," said Coun. Ron Orr about the purchase of the vacuum. "Yes we have people dumping large (items) but we have people throwing out the window every day, that's what this will help clean up."
He noted there was recently construction debris of asphalt, dirt, and interlock bricks dumped in a ditch along Coffey Road.
"We're dealing a lot more with this type of situation, this costs our town to have to go bring the big trucks in," said Orr. "I'm all for this to help keep our town clean."
Coun. Peter Ferragine echoed Orr's comments, noting the dumping situation along the rural roads is unfortunate.
"People have to remember...this is your home, this is your area. Show some pride in your own town. It's very frustrating," he lamented.
Leduc blamed the minimum $10 tipping fee at the transfer station as one of the reasons for the increase in illegal dumping, which he voted against at county council. Prior to the pandemic, the minimum fee was only $5.
He noted it was already an inconvenience to take garbage to the transfer station and the increase in cost has deterred residents from making the trip and paying the fee.
"That's what happens, you have people who don't want to pay the fee and toss their garbage at the side of the road," he said.
Coun. Gary Lamb said he went to the transfer station the other week and noted its ease of use.
"They got their act together up there, it didn't take very long," he said. "The county's doing a good job at the landfill and I encourage people to go up there."
Leduc agreed the station runs well, but wished the fees were lower to encourage more residents to make the trip.
Mayor Rob Keffer reminded that tagged garbage bags can be brought to the transfer station with no tipping fee.
