Anyone caught dumping their garbage along roads or anywhere else in the MD of Foothills could face a substantial financial penalty.
Foothills MD council is debating an increase in the fine for illegal dumping to as high as $10,000 for the most severe cases. It’s a significant increase from the existing fine of $115.
MD Reeve Larry Spilak said it’s long been a problem in the MD and he doesn’t think there’s any other choice but to get tough.
“It’s all about making a statement that we’re just not going to allow that sort of thing to happen in our MD any further,” he said.
The MD is in the process of drawing up amendments to its community standards bylaw to increase the fine. Amendments still have to be reviewed by the MD’s lawyer before coming to council.
In the meantime, council is asking the MD’s bylaw officers to pay more attention to illegal dumping issues, particularly where it’s a regular occurrence.
Spilak said they also want to include a provision in the bylaw allowing charges to be laid if someone reports the license plate number of a vehicle involved in illegal dumping, even if they don’t know who was behind the wheel.
He said this is good enough to issue a ticket through photo radar and he hopes it will help to secure convictions.
Not every incident would warrant a fine as high as $10,000.
MD protective services supervisor Geoff Carpenter said littering may only net a fine of around $100, but the penalty could rise with the severity of the incident. Littering something on the side of the road could net a small fine, while anything that could effect the environment could result in a substantially larger penalty.
“If it’s a repeat offender or something to the effect of being substantial in terms of what has occurred, yes we could go to the courts and ask for a higher fine,” he said.
The MD is also looking at whether it can recover the costs of cleaning up garbage from anyone found guilty of illegal dumping, said Carpenter.
“Obviously it costs the MD, whether it’s the landfill personnel who have to attend on behalf of the MD or MD personnel who have to clean up the mess,” he said.
However, Carpenter admitted getting a conviction for illegal dumping isn’t easy unless the perpetrator is caught in the act.
Even if they find receipts or bills with a name and phone number, Carpenter said this isn’t enough for a conviction. They need to be able to prove precisely who dumped the garbage, he said.
MD residents can play an important role by reporting anyone they see dumping garbage illegally.
MD rancher Doug Fraser said finding everything from household garbage to furniture and construction debris is a common occurrence in his area northwest of Okotoks.
He said $10,000 is a bit exorbitant, but increasing the fine is a step forward.
Fraser said he still wants the MD to charge people if they can find something with a name in the garbage as a deterrent against illegal dumping.
“If you find an address or phone number in that bag of garbage, you should still charge them,” he said. “Write them a ticket for $150 or $200 and (ask) how did your name and address get in there?”
Fraser said it’s a common problem that needs to stop. Earlier this year, someone dumped a barbecue along with a pile of construction debris in a ditch near his home and in another case he found an old rug dumped at the side of the road.
Skunks unwanted in MD
The MD is looking at banning the release of captured skunks anywhere within Foothills.
MD Reeve Larry Spilak said this is becoming an increasing problem for area residents.
“The MD doesn’t have a problem with animals, but the skunk issue has been abused,” he said.
Carpenter said most skunks released in the MD are caught in Calgary and other towns in the area. In many cases, he said they are released in the same location and nearby residents end up having to deal with the animals.
“Even though we do have skunks, that’s the nature of being in a rural area, we don’t need to have it artificially multiplied by the release of skunks in certain areas,” he said.
MD council is also looking at a potential fine as high as $10,000 for the worst cases.
According to Carpenter, skunks are deemed a nuisance animal and they’re to be put down humanely, not released into the wild. He said skunks can only be released onto private or provincial land with a provincial permit to do so.
The MD is working with bylaw officials in the City of Calgary to ensure private pest businesses are aware of the rules.
