Nearly 5,000 kilograms of waste collected at the Trash Bash

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is celebrating the success of its 10^th Annual Backroad Trash Bash, which took place on Saturday, September 16.

Thirty-nine volunteers gathered to clean up trash illegally dumped at 23 sites from Middle Point in Pender Harbour to Egmont.

Volunteers included community residents, members of Sunshine Coast Off-Road Club, and representatives from AJM Disposal, BC Natural Resources Office, BC Conservation Service, Salish Soils and the SCRD.

Special thanks to the Pender Harbour Hikers and Pender Harbour Lions Park for helping to set up the event, Don White for donating time and heavy machinery, and to sponsors RONA Madeira Park Store, IGA Madeira Park, and Kleindale Supply LTD for donating volunteer supplies.

This year, 4,830 kilograms of illegally dumped waste was collected by community volunteers. Materials found at the dump sites included wood waste, tires, electronic waste, furniture, appliances, metal, and household garbage.

“We are thrilled with the excellent turn out and community spirit at this year’s event and are grateful for everyone’s hard work cleaning up the illegal dump sites,” says Andrea Patrao, SCRD Solid Waste Programs Coordinator. “It is events like this that help create cleaner, safer, healthier, and more vibrant communities for our residents and businesses.”

If an illegal dump site is found, please report it to the Conservation Officer Service Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277 or online https://forms.gov.bc.ca/environment/rapp/.

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, visit www.scrd.ca/illegal-dumping.