Columbia Valley residents with sharp eyes have helped to report and clean-up an illegal dumping incident that occurred in the Village of Canal Flats late last year.

Sometime in November 2010, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) received several calls from the public about a supposed dumping of commercial construction demolition waste at the Canal Flats transfer station.

This was an illegal dumping, as commercial loads are not permitted to be dumped at the station site, but at the Columbia Valley landfill, as required by the RDEK.

The individual has since been billed for the clean-up costs and the waste and debris has been properly picked up and cleared out.

Though the contractor applied to the board to have the fees waived, the board denied the request.

The RDEK will continue to work with the contractor to recoup the clean-up costs.

“I don’t believe that we should waive the fees and reward a contractor that broke the rules, when all the other contractors abide by them,” said Area F Director Wendy Booth.

“This incident is an excellent example of how the public can make a big difference in reporting incidents of illegal dumping and how the RDEK takes those complaints seriously so that the entire Valley doesn’t have to bear the cost of cleaning up illegal dumping,” she added.

“It’s really important that we use our transfer stations and landfills properly and this incident serves as a good reminder of the importance of properly disposing of your waste.

“I’d like to thank everyone who called to report this situation.”

When witnesses similar incidents of illegal dumping, contact the RDEK.

For more information on the RDEK, visit www.rdek.bc.ca