Larry Binks doesn’t mince words when he says what he thinks about people who have been dumping trash at the end of Kootenay River Road.
“It’s a select few adults — disrespectful, self-centred people who are too lazy to drive to the landfill,” the Area C director said on Monday. “This isn’t about the kids who go down there and party, it’s adults and even commercial businesses.”
On Saturday, a group of Creston Valley 4-H Club members (beef and dairy and poultry) braved a steady rain and chilly temperatures to help clean up the garbage. They tramped through brush and high grass, pulling out a bewildering array of items.
Binks had solicited their help by making an Regional District of Central Kootenay Area C contribution to 4-H.
The kids, along with adult supervisors, were loading trash onto a trailer for transport to the landfill.
Binks pointed out a load of wood chips that had been dumped sometime in the last week. It had been set on fire and then left unattended by the illegal dumper. Later, he produced a plastic bag with a needle and syringe inside, obviously left behind by a drug-using partier.
“I’m pretty sure diabetics don’t come down here to inject insulin and then dump their needles,” he said.
To help counteract the actions of the irresponsible few who ruin a popular picnic and party site, Binks said Area C is offering a $2,000 reward to anyone providing information about the dumping that leads to a conviction under the Pollution Control Act. In addition, he promises to arrange for the installation of hidden motion-triggered video cameras that could help identify bad actors.
“Kudos to the members of the 4-H clubs,” Binks said. “But they shouldn’t have to be out here picking up someone else’s garbage.”
This wasn't the first time residents have cleaned up garbage near local water access points. Last year, Scott Murray spent 10 hours to gather 90 bags of garbage near Canyon's Goat River bridge.
“Does Canyon have a dump now?” he asked, rhetorically. “It didn’t used to have one, but it looks like things have changed.”