We’ve probably all seen it at some point driving or walking around Metro Vancouver: abandoned furniture and appliances strewn around.
It’s illegal dumping and it’s a problem that’s increasingly showing up in Burnaby.
And the trend has city officials scratching their heads, considering the level of service the municipality provides residents when it comes to picking up old appliances and what are considered “bulky” items like furniture.
“It is unfortunate given the level of service we provide… that it is resulting in people disposing the bulky items or appliances inappropriately,” said the city’s assistant director of engineering Dipak Dattani.
Burnaby is one of the only cities in the region to offer a large item and appliance curbside pickup program with no annual limit.
Essentially, residents in single-family homes just have to call the city to arrange the pickup date and can leave out up to three items a week.
People living in apartments and townhome complexes who receive city garbage and recycling services have to contact their property manager to arrange for a pick-up.
And in 2015, the service proved fairly popular.
The city picked up 3,600 appliances and another 20,600 bulky items like furniture.
“It’s a very good and well received service by our residents,” Dattani said.
But people continue to illegally dump their stuff, so he said the city wants to remind the public the pickup service is available and free.
Besides the obvious reasons for not just dumping the old fridge into a bunch of bushes at the side of the road, it also costs the city more money to clean up the mess.
While Dattani didn’t have the specific costs to the city annually to chase after illegal dumping, he noted it takes more staff time to clean up items compared to a proper service call.
Illegal dumping is just that – illegal – and anyone who gets busted could be fined under city bylaws between $100 and $500.
So the city has a basic message for residents who need to get rid of that unwanted couch or stove.
“All you have to do is simply call us and we would provide that collection service,” Dattani said.
For more information, go to city’s website at www.burnaby.ca. To arrange a pickup, call 604-294-7972.
