Blind River council is threatening to remove garbage collection bins at the Matinenda Landing unless users follow proper dumping regulations.
The matter was raised with council at its meeting Monday evening in a report by the town’s director of public services Christopher Zagar. The town has seven bins located at the site and pays for the service intended to be used by cottagers on the lake. In his report Zagar showed pictures taken by the contractor hired to empty the bins of garbage strewn about the site, including larger items such as furniture.
“Over the past few years, improper disposal of waste at the Matinenda Landing has been an ongoing issue. Currently the landing has seven waste bins in place which are dumped twice a week during the summer months,” Zagar said in his report. “Yet, there is still consistently garbage left outside of the bins, construction waste being disposed of in the bins, and bulk items left in the parking lot. This results in trash being strewn across the public parking lot and into the surrounding forested area.”
The Matinenda Landing has almost double the bins of any other site in Town. In contrast, the Arena/community centre (capacity limit of 1,600), serviced with one bin.
“The issues with waste disposal at the landing are clearly not due to a lack of capacity but improper use and abuse,” Zagar added.
Blind River is responsible through its Land Use Permit under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests to prevent environmental degradation and pollution of the land even though the town does not own the land.
During a lengthy discussion on the matter, CAO-Clerk Katie Scott said the ministry is aware of the ongoing problems at the landing and may order the bins be removed which would leave the town without having to decide they be removed. She said the waste problem has occurred each year since she was hired 13 years ago.
Regular waste service at the site is paid for by the taxpayers.
Zagar said the problem has been brought to the attention of the Lake Matinenda Cottage Owner’s Association to communicate to their members and lake residents the guidelines for proper waste disposal at the site.
It’s was also indicated that dumping may also be being done by people outside of the Lake Matinenda area.
Council approved close monitoring of the use of the waste bins at Matinenda Landing for compliance with the guidelines for proper waste disposal during the summer of 2023, including an educational campaign (for residents) and if compliance is not met that the bins be removed to avoid the further expense of public funds for the disposal of waste dedicated to a modest portion of the municipalities population.
The motion was recommended to council by the Infrastructure Services Committee.