Trouble still lurks at West Nipissing’s landfills, and the municipality asks you to keep a watchful eye.
This past June, West Nipissing council heard about an alarming increase in theft, vandalism, and trespassing within the municipal landfills. Elizabeth Henning, West Nipissing’s Director of Infrastructure Services, told council that even a port-a-potty was stolen from one site.
“These costs are adding up for the municipality,” Henning said at a June council meeting.
See: Landfill crime rising in West Nipissing
The landfill issues persist, as the Municipality of West Nipissing has issued a release “urging residents to report any suspicious activity at landfill sites after-hours.” Over the past two years, incidents “have significantly increased” at the landfill, and the municipality “is addressing these issues by exploring measures to enhance security and by working with local police.”
However, the municipality is not underestimating the power of the people, and “community involvement can have a significant impact in reducing such activity.”
Verner, Field, Lavigne, River Valley, Kipling, and Sturgeon Falls all have landfills. They operate on limited hours, and most are off the beaten path, which makes them difficult to monitor.
Cameras have been installed at some locations, but some of those have been stolen, Henning said last June.
The thefts are costing taxpayers. “Stage and gate attendants are constantly replacing damaged gates and repairing essential structures,” the municipal release notes.
“Residents are asked to report any unauthorized access or suspicious behavior to the local OPP detachment as soon as they see it.”
To reach the Ontario Provincial Police (Nipissing West Detachment), dial 9-1-1 or 1-888-310-1122.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
