Close2026 Backroads Trash Bash
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is celebrating the success of its 13th annual Backroad Trash Bash, which took place on Saturday, September 12.
20 volunteers gathered to clean up trash illegally dumped on the backroads of Halfmoon Bay to Pender Harbour. Volunteers included community residents, members of the Sunshine Coast Off-Road Club, Sunshine Coast Dirt Bike Association, Pender Harbour Hikers, and the Conservation Officers Service.
Special thanks to the Pender Lions Club for providing a gathering space and cooking the volunteer’s lunch and the Pender Harbour Hikers for their generous support and volunteer help with the event. Thank you to this year’s sponsors Sustainable Forestry Initiative of Western Canada, IGA and Rona for donating water bottles, gloves and bags for the volunteer’s use.
This year, 890 kilograms of illegally dumped waste was collected by community volunteers. This included 160 kg of scrap metal, 280 kg of roofing, 450 kg of garbage, 8 tires and 2 propane tanks. Extra thanks to Don White’s help with an excavator for the removal of an old trailer and surrounding garbage, although the weight of that garbage hasn’t been calculated yet.
FYI! A lot of what is collected from these events is free to drop off a local depot, off rim tires can be brought to a local tire shop and both appliances and electronics are free to drop off locally.
“The Backroad Trash Bash is a great example of what we can accomplish when our community comes together to care for the places we all enjoy,” says Marc Sole, SCRD Manager of Solid Waste Services. “We sincerely thank all the volunteers who came out to help clean up illegal dump sites. Their efforts help protect our forests, wildlife, and waterways while making the Sunshine Coast a cleaner, safer place for everyone.”
To learn more about the Backroad Trash Bash, visit letstalk.scrd.ca/trash-bash.
For information on how to clean up an illegal dump site year-round in our region or how to report sites to the Conservation Officer Service Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line, visit www.scrd.ca/illegal-dumping.
