NationalPost.com
Tyler Anderson/National Post
A garbage pile at the Dufferin waste management plant in Toronto. A new monitoring system in Kelowna, B.C., will keep tabs on how residents dispose of their trash
Laura Baziuk, Postmedia News · Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010
Officials in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley plan to use camera-equipped garbage trucks to film what gets dumped in order to make sure people are recycling properly.
Since the introduction last year of a three-bin system, providing garbage, recycling and yard waste bins, waste contamination has become a big problem, said Peter Rotheisler, manager of waste reduction at the Central Okanagan Regional District. While the system has helped to keep more material out of the landfill, it costs about $300,000 a year to pull out any materials in the wrong place.
The cameras will be able to record what is thrown out so city staff will have proof of bad behaviour.
"We' re not watching people.... We're looking for material types — paper, carboard, garbage — in the wrong spot," Mr. Rotheisler said.
Mixing things like cardboard, batteries or electronics in with the garbage will net a warning from the city, a fine of up to $100, or even the cancelling of curbside pickup, he said.
