Illegal dumping has become rampant in the valley — a habit that the local bylaw officer says is an annual result of warmer weather.

“Everybody does their housecleaning in the spring,” said District of Invermere bylaw officer Mark Topliff. “And it costs them, as taxpayers, when city workers have to take it to the dump.”

Large, illegally dumped items he has observed — fridges, a stove, a dishwasher and couches — could have all been disposed of for no charge at Windermere Landfill Tipping in Windermere.

And anything that can fit into a large garbage bag can be taken to the Invermere Transfer Station for free.

Topliff said the fine for those caught dumping illegally is $150.

Milt Deck, a Pine Ridge resident of six years and a regular volunteer with the annual Valley Pride litter clean-up day, found a fridge dumped at the border between Pine Ridge and Grizzly Ridge on the gravel pit road, and suspects it was the action of a local person since most tourists wouldn’t have any business dumping fridges in rural mountain subdivisions.

Anyone who witnesses illegal dumping (waste purposefully left in private or public areas instead of using legal disposal methods) and would like to see it stopped is asked to record as much information as possible — the licence plate of the vehicle, a description of the person(s) and the witnessed activity, and a photo if circumstances allow.

From there, Topliff can be contacted on his cell at 250-341-5436.