Re: Victoria man hasn’t put out trash in three years, (Goldstream News Gazette, Oct. 10)
Mr. Wardroper is to be commended for his efforts in reducing waste. However, his admission that he scavenges bottles from his neighbours’ blue boxes is a problem.
Alas, there is rampant stealing of materials from the blue boxes. On each day when the recycling is to be collected in any neighbourhood, swarms of scavengers are on the streets, rifling through the blue boxes and loading up on items which can be sold for cash at places like the bottle depot.
As per CRD bylaw 2290 (particularly sections 2(b) (ii) and 3(b)), this is theft from the recycling program and subject to at least a $100 fine. The CRD website states that the program is funded through the sale of recyclables. The same website asks people to report scavengers, but when this is done, little is seen as a result. We’ll all be paying more for the blue box program if they can’t make enough from the recyclable materials to cover their costs.
Roel Hurkens
Langford