The Corporation of Delta has increased enforcement against people who dump garbage and other items in the community instead of taking the items to the landfill.
In the past six months, municipal bylaw inspectors have laid 18 charges against people for dumping on public roadways and private property in Delta. People caught dumping illegally face a $500 fine and are charged for the cost of clean-up.
“This is unfortunate, but necessary work that we have to do,” said Mayor Lois Jackson. “It’s disappointing that people choose to dispose of unwanted items inappropriately, but we’re out there catching these people and hopefully our vigilance and the hefty fines change their behaviour.”
Enforcement is under way seven days per week and bylaw inspectors, with the assistance of the engineering department, use a variety of techniques to catch people dumping illegally, including surveillance, interviews, examination of dumped material, and witness reports.
Enforcement is targeted at known dumping locations, including isolated roads and laneways behind local businesses. One beneficiary of enforcement has been the Hospice Cottage Charity Shoppe on 56 Street in Tsawwassen, which had previously been faced with the costs of disposing illegally dumped material.