Students pick up over a tonne of waste

Students at the Okanagan Adventist Academy ended their first week back to school exerting some elbow grease by tackling illegal dumping off Postill Lake Road. 

Thirty grade 8-12 students and their teachers hauled furniture, pallets, construction waste and bags and bags of litter out of the bush and loaded it into a huge dumpster donated by 4 Less Disposal.

Adventist Academy teacher Cherri Gerber says “A big part of the teaching of our school is to help students find their purpose. Taking part in an activity like this helps the students realize that they can make a difference in their own community.”

According to Waste Reduction Facilitator Cynthia Coates this cleanup event came together very nicely. 

“Ms. Gerber let us know that her students were interested in getting involved in the community, perhaps doing a cleanup or something similar," Coates says. "At the same time we received reports of piles of garbage up in the Postill Lake Road area and 4 Less Disposal was willing to donate a bin too. It’s great to see things like this come together so easily and make a difference.” 

A total of 1.2 tonnes  of material was hauled out of the area, filling up a 30 yard dumpster.

Illegal dumping has been in the spot light several times this year and the Waste Reduction Office reminds everyone the Glenmore landfill is open seven days a week to drop off material while the Westside Residential Waste Disposal and Recycling Centre is open every Friday through Monday. 

"There is no reason any of this material should be ending up in the bush," Coates says. "These students are cleaning up after adults, folks that are users of this area and should be stewards of the environment. We are always grateful when groups step up and offer to do these cleanups. It’s unfortunate that this happens though."

The Postill Lake area has been cleaned up numerous times this year including having an abandoned camper hauled out in the beginning of June while other piles have been cleared by the Regional District’s contractor. 

As well, one dedicated user of the area, Garrett Strong, not only helped the Adventist Academy students on Friday but has also hauled numerous loads on his own to the landfill. 

“Garrett was an incredible help for this cleanup, using his truck to haul additional material from further up the road,” Coates says. “We are grateful to have him clean up the mess caused by others.”

To report an illegal dumpsite visit regionaldistrict.com/recycle or contact the Waste Reduction Office at 250-469-6250.