April 24, 2008
Editorial
We have to do more about our trash
Snow is melting and spring is here at last. Along with it comes the annual unsightly remnants of debris littered on road sides, sidewalks, parking lots and ditches.
Spring cleanups, caring residents and natural vegetation growth usually take care of the immediate visual impact, however, this year there seems to be an ever increasing amount of garbage deliberately discarded at the most convenient drop-off site.
Last week while traveling the highway between Deer Lake and Grand Falls-Windsor, I noticed a sofa and arm chair peeking out of the snow on a side road off the TCH. A little further along there were a couple tires, than an old appliance on a small turnaround, and periodically, bags of debris that had to be carried to their resting site on purpose. There is also an over abundance of dilapidated vehicles left on road sides in towns with windows broken, parts and tires missing.
Take a drive on any local woods road and the amount of garbage scattered in the most convenient drop-off point is astonishing.
In the past couple years it has been identified by all levels of government the need for improved waste disposal. Many local landfill sites and incinerators have closed or are slated for decommissioning in the near future, consequently the ease of disposing of waste, garbage and debris is taking on a whole new logistics problem. Local municipal officials in the western region continue to debate the idea of a regional waste facility, where it should be located, who will run it and who controls it. From what I understand, the province continues to drag its heels in providing direction by still not having named a committee management official.
I assume for no other reason than lack of a political crony who needs a reward. All during this time residents and business are left in a dilemma as what to do with garbage.
The ever increasing cost of waste removal has forced some municipalities to curb what items they collect.
Rules and regulations by others have also dictated what can and can not be disposed of in certain areas. All this no doubt has good intentions, however, the lack of planning and consideration taken prior to the initiation of the rules and regulations and their impact is responsible for some of the inconsiderate disposal actions of some.
Implementing a ban on steel or cardboard from garbage collection is fine, provided alternate methods of collection and disposal have been arranged. Due to escalating costs, many local towns now limit the size and type of products that may be placed for normal garbage collection. This in many cases is not sufficient for disposal of items such as steel debris, old appliances and furniture. So what to do with it?
Recycling is the obvious answer, but it must be carefully thought out and planned. Years ago the provincial government brought in a recycling fee on tires. This idea although valiant was not carefully planned. The fee was brought in and disposal in waste sites was banned all before any careful consideration was given to how the tires would be collected, by who, when and where they would be picked up, not to mention what was to be done with them after.
After a couple attempts, a contractor was secured for the process but after realizing that there was no market for the rubber, the contractor took flight (pardon the pun) and left taxpayers high and dry for the disposal of tires that we had paid for already. Our beverage container tax, oops sorry, deposit fee, seems to be best example of recycling success, largely because you pay eight cents and got a whopping whole nickel back on return. However, there are only certain designated sites for return of beverage containers and many people have to travel many kilometers, therefor making recycling not that attractive.
If we are serious about reducing waste we must make a conscious effort to efficiently recycle and make it accessible to each and every citizen. Set up a recycling depot in areas with hours of operation suitable for the entire public to access, open Tuesday to Saturday 12 to 8? All paper, metals, beverage containers, cardboard, plastics, etc. could be sorted and picked up on a regular basis. This could also be a help by providing meaningful employment opportunities in rural areas.
It does make more sense than cutting brush off the road in January in three feet of snow. Basically, if you make it reasonable to recycle, most people will.
Currently our recycling efforts are at best inefficient and ill conceived. While the idea is noble, the approach less than effective. Careful consideration must be given to how we will dispose of our garbage by evaluating the environment effects with the economical impacts. Recycling is best for the environment, however, it must be cost efficient for all concerned. Let’s all do our little part to help out. Make a conscious effort to recycle and eliminate litter. We will never completely stop the idiots from dumping garbage on the side of the road, but with thought and planning on waste disposal this type of action may not be as desirable as the easy option. My opinions are not always right and as one reader once said, they are only fit to light the fire, but hey, at least they were recycling, not thrown in the trash.
Michael Brake lives in Meadows and is a member of The Western Star’s Community Editorial Board.
