HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1970-04-30, Page 4UR POINT OF VIEW A 'CANDID LOOK
AT THE AREA DUMPS
...And other man-made blemishes
Under the best conditions, a dump is not an
attractive place. Each year, area residents dispose
of tons of garbage and debris of every nature
imaginable and finding suitable places for this
refuse is becoming one of the main problems of
our society.
In a rural area such as this, finding space for
the dumping of refuse has not been considered
much of a problem. Marginal agricultural land is
available and has been employed for this use.
However, a close observation of the area
dumps clearly indicates that we have a major
problem on our hands. Don't take our word for it!
Just look at the pictures included here.
Each of the pictures with the _exception of
one, was taken from the roads on which the area
dumps are situated. They're not pretty pictures by
any standard, but they do clearly indicate what
motorists see when they drive on concession roads
in our communities.
A couple of the pictures show debris which
has been tossed on roads by unthinking persons
who obviously have no regard / for their
surroundings. One shows a dead pig which was
apparently tossed into Black River and was washed
ashore in a spring freshette.
Unfortunately, the area municipal councils
must assume responsibility for the scenes depicted
here. We say unfortunately, because in reality they
have little control over the creation of the situation
as seen at some dumps.
If area residents would dump refuse in the
areas set aside for this use, the operation of area
dumps would not become a blemish on the
countryside.
But it is indeed a distasteful blemish and area
councils are faced with the task of eradicating it.
Of equal concern to the unsightly mess of
area dumps, is the fact that all are dangerously
close to water systems, even the Hensall and
Usborne dumps which are much better kept than
those used by Stephen, Exeter and Hay.
Seepage from all the dumps enters the streams
and ditches located near them, and unquestionably
adds to the pollution of local waterways.
The Stephen and Hay dumps in particular are
located in water areas, and of the municipal dumps
they are certainly the most unsightly as well.
Scenes such as these should not be condoned
in an area as beautiful as ours. The task of cleaning
them up rests with the municipal officials involved
and when that is done stiff penalties must be
imposed on those who fail to use the facilities
properly.
Some time ago, there was a suggestion that
the area municipalities should get together to
discuss dump facilities.
The pictures contained on this page would
indicate that such a suggestion should be
implemented in an effort to overcome this blemish.