As I walked across the Yorkton landfill, I felt as though I’d been transported onto the surface of Mars.
Last week, myself and other media and government representatives were invited to the Yorkton landfill to see the nearly-completed new cell (see the full coverage elsewhere in the paper or online). After a quick speech, the organizers asked if we’d like to trek down to the base of the cell. I, armed with my camera and a thirst for unique photos, happily agreed.
We traveled around the lip of the cell, gazing down at the gaping abyss. The cell (as large as six football fields) was coated in a black material meant to stop toxic water from seeping into the ground. It’s a fabulous invention, perfect for preserving our agricultural way of life. It is also, as I found out, an excellent method for turning the landfill cell into gigantic oven.
It was a warm day, but the cell felt like the top of a frying pan. Heat seemed to pour out of every square inch of the landfill, roasting us alive. The cell stretched out before us, an endless expanse of boiling death. Feeling the sun bear down on me, I was reminded of Clint Eastwood’s character marching through the desert in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
We walked through the cell, snapping photos and grabbing footage. The organizers explained how the cell will function and how it will receive garbage. As I listened to them, surveyed the cell, and endured the heat, one thought ran through my head: “$5 million can sure buy you a lot of leg room.”
Yes, the new landfill cell project has a budget of $5 million. Over the next 50 years, Yorkton plans to use this money to construct three additional cells. It’s a hefty price tag.
I mentioned this chunky budget to a friend. Their response (I’m paraphrasing) was: “This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
It’s a common cry when it comes to government spending. People are usually taken aback when they find the actual costs of projects. They say they’re surprised or caught off guard. They wish they could’ve spoken up before the budget was set.
Now, I’m no scold (mostly). I don’t much care what people do with their time and energy. However you spend your days on this spinning rock we call a planet is your business (as long as you’re not hurting anyone).
But if I may offer one piece of advice, it’s this: Show up. Add your voice to the fray. If you think a proposed budget is poorly-constructed, say so. Don’t complain once it’s too late; be a hipster and complain before it’s cool.
Apathy and politics go together like LeBron and the Cavaliers (wait, actually, never mind). Voter turnout is always low in our country. Town council meetings are sparsely populated. Recently, Yorkton councillors bemoaned how the new seacans bylaw received little community feedback. People have their lives to lead; most would prefer to ignore politics.
But it shouldn’t be that way. We don’t have to respond to every government decision with a resigned shrug. Tune in. Read the news. Get informed. When a bylaw is proposed and you see its flaws, you should be on the phone with your councillors. Be proactive, not reactive.
Otherwise you’ll end up like me: In the bottom of a landfill cell, sweating bullets and wondering how I got here.
