SASKATOON – It’s the unsightly side of spring. Litter strewn across the city from back alleys to ditches.
“When you’re walking downtown you don’t want litter flying at you when you’re trying to enjoy your day.”
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It’s an all too common sight this time of year in Saskatoon as paper, plastic and other trash blows in the breeze making for some unwanted scenery.
“Right now we all pay with our time and our money the costs of litter in our community,”said Brenda Wallace, director of environmental and corporate initiatives with the City of Saskatoon.
If we could start seeing waste more as a recyclable, valuable material that would benefit us all.”
Every spring, a significant amount of trash is picked up by city crews and community partners which is why Wallace says it’s key for residents to make sure lids to both garbage and recycling bins are shut securely.
It’s also the responsibility of landfill staff to make sure debris remains on-site at the landfill. When it comes to people illegally dumping due to increased landfill rates, the city was quick to dismiss that.
“What we’ve observed is it has more to do with development, it has more to do with people’s attitudes and if they’re people who don’t want to be responsible they’re just not.”
Is the losing battle against littering at times because there’s not enough enforcement? Fines in Saskatoon start at $100 but no more than $500. According to the Saskatoon Police Service, seven tickets were given out in 2014, 13 tickets last year.
“Someone clearly littering someone like throwing a big bag out the window, junk food, fast food items, said Saskatoon resident Ryan Allen.
“I think they do need to go after some people for that.”
Allen said every time he sees a piece of litter on the ground he picks it up and expects his children to do the same.
According to Wallace, the problem with enforcement is catching people in the act.
“If people are aware and they care and they’re willing to let officials know, we have great tools for enforcement it’s just we need to have that evidence.”
Another solution that may help curb our littering problem will be introduced next year. Residents will have another option to the landfill with the possibility of recycling more items first.
The city is working to introduce a program called Recovery Park where waste is put in the right place more cheaply.
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