My son, his partner and friends spent their teenage years fishing at the river in the area of Finlayson Island and along Levee Road on the Battleford side.
It was a standing joke in our household that when my husband complained about them using up all his firewood, I would reply, “Hey, they could be out knocking over 7-11s.”
When the gang graduated from high school the mother of one of the boys made a special cake that depicted them fishing at the river.
It was an idyllic time for them and this spring they decided to revisit old haunts, having purchased a house in Battleford and are now making their home in the community where they grew up.
Imagine their dismay to find themselves sitting on the riverbank against a backdrop of garbage. We’re not talking litter here. This isn’t an isolated pocket of fast food wrappers, drink cans or the odd used tissue. This is household garbage unceremoniously dumped and strewn about what should be a pristine corner of nature to be enjoyed by all. And yes, that’s a household appliance in one of the photos above. Seriously!
As I’ve stated often, I cannot comprehend the mind set of people who do not take responsibility for their garbage. We all create trash through our consumerism and just in the course of our daily lives. To assume someone else will take care of it for us is just plain irresponsible.
The amount of dumping that goes on in this community isn’t a new concern. Over the years I’ve dispatched reporters out along Levee Road and elsewhere to chronicle the things people believe are OK to just dump in a secluded area. Heck, some think nothing of cleaning up branches around their yard, loading them in a truck and dumping them along Levee Road.
Others think the communal recycling bins in Battleford are fair game for whatever trash they can’t be bothered to dispose of properly.
I’m sure the corner of the universe I inhabit is no different from other areas in the community and the region.
It’s disturbing and maddening, but what is the solution?
There are now security cameras monitoring the parking lots at Finlayson Island. Perhaps footage should be reviewed to determine who the culprit was in the case of the trail leading to the river from the parking lot.
My family and I, and I’m sure others in the community, would love to see that person fined to the full extent of the law.
The Ministry of Environment has a TIP Line, which is an acronym for Turn In Poachers, but they also accept calls to report dumping of tires, trash, building materials and other waste.
If you are reluctant to turn in your neighbours for their bad behaviour, how about doing so anonymously? You can contact the TIP Line at 1-800-667-7561 or SaskTel cell #5555. Tips can also be made online at www.environment.gov.sk.ca/tip.
Those of you who take responsibility for your garbage, keep up the good work. I salute you one and all, and I propose we gang up on those who don’t and try to force them to clean up their act.
