Delta this week announced increased enforcement against illegal dumping.
In the past six months, municipal bylaw inspectors have laid 18 charges against people for dumping on public roadways and private property in Delta.
People caught dumping illegally face a $500 fine and are also charged for the cost of cleanup.
"This is unfortunate, but necessary work that we have to do," said Mayor Lois Jackson. "It's disappointing that people choose to dispose of unwanted items inappropriately, but we're out there catching these people and hopefully our vigilance and the hefty fines change their behaviour."
One local group benefiting from the increased enforcement is the Delta Hospice Society Charity Shoppe in Tsawwassen.
In a letter to the Optimist last month, society executive director Nancy Macey said that while the shop receives many quality donations from people in the community, others have dropped off unwanted items when the store is closed.
"We have no end of broken furniture, beds, mattresses, TVs, rusty barbecues and large furniture dropped off after hours, even though the signage says the shoppe cannot sell these items," she said.
When items are dropped off after hours, when the gates are closed, the goods are actually on the road. The municipality has installed signs and cameras warning residents about illegal dumping.
"These seem like desperate measures but the society can no longer manage being the convenient dumping place for people's unwanted goods," Macey said.
"Disposal is very costly and our current way of disposing of dumped items is not sustainable."
Enforcement of the dumping bylaw is under way seven days a week and Delta's bylaw inspectors, with the help of the engineering department, uses a variety of techniques to catch people dumping illegally. Those include surveillance, interviews, examination of the dumped materials along with witness reports.
Enforcement has been targeted on known dumping locations, including isolated roads and laneways behind local businesses.
