Hikes in landfill fees, illegal dumping penalties approved

NEWS/ CITY HALL — Despite some concerns about illegal dumping, landfill tipping fees will go up early next year.

Kamloops City council voted today (Tuesday) to boost fees at the City’s two landfills from $60 to $80 a tonne for household garbage and from $60 to $160 a tonne for construction waste in order to keep up with what the Thompson-Nicola Regional district is doing.

At the same time, penalties will be increased substantially for illegal dumping.

Most council members were of the opinion that illegal dumping of both garbage and construction waste will happen no matter what the tipping fees are, and that it’s hard to catch the rogue dumpers anyway.

In answer to questions from council, bylaws supervisor Jon Wilson said,”We’ve probably got a handful” in the past several years. The increase in penalties, which includes retrieving the costs of prosecution, will work as a deterrent, he said.

“Ten thousand dollars (new maximum penalty) is not enough,” said Coun. Tina Lange. “I’d certainly like us to do something to stop them.”

But Mayor Peter Milobar said the “reality” is that people will dump illegally anyway.

Coun. Marg Spina said the Kamloops Hospice thrift store in Brocklehurst has had problems with old couches, dishwashers and bug-infested beds being dumped at night behind their shop.

Volunteers are using their own trucks, gas and money to pay for taking that waste to the dump now, she said.
“It’s created a financial burden. They think they’re doing a community service taking it to the dump instead of letting it pile up on the lot,” she said.

“They say it’s getting to be really untenable.”

Other thrift stores are reporting similar problems and wondering if the City can do anything.

“This is an urban garbage problem. Illegal dumping isn’t just happening in the bush, it’s happening in town too.”

Public works director Jen Fretz said the way the City’s bylaw is written, tipping fees can be waived for people participating in community clean-up events, but not non-profit organizations.

“This does come up quite regularly. Right now, there’s nothing staff can do based on the way the bylaw is written.”

Coun. Pat Wallace said receipts and other pieces of trash with identification on it are often used to track down the offenders.

“People go through and find receipts. If they find receipts, they turn them in with names on them. Shame on people that is the equivalent to being a crook when you take and you dump stuff off, especially at a non-profit,” she said.

“If you see someone dumping, get their licence plate and phone it in.”

“Garbage is a very expensive component of day-to-day living,” said Milobar as the increases in both fees and penalties were approved unanimously.