Re: “City of Duncan needs more public garbage cans”, (Citizen, June 8).
Miss Marie, I read your letter about the garbage cans. You said “Really? Are they that costly?” Actually, they are.
An informed person (myself) has had a direct involvement with them. Facts follow: They have to be emptied, that requires staff and time; the “wonderful public” use these things to deposit their house garbage in, be it in daily small bags or large weekly deposits on the way to their favourite place, or school (taking their children) or in the evening after dark because there is one close to their home. All because they don’t want to pay (as you know, it still costs you to get rid of your trash). Then others complain about the overflowing containers, being filled sometimes overnight, as they attract animals and birds, so someone has to make a special trip to get the mess cleaned up.
That is just a bit of the annoyance they are. People set them on fire, causing a call to the fire department, costing more money. They knock them over; someone has to right them. In the winter it rains the trash gets wet and then stinks so bad you won’t stand near them. And here is the most marvellous thing — the public urinates and defecates in them (yes it’s true, I watched it happen one evening). Then you have pee and poop soup, mixed with coffee, pop, rain water and the like and a “public servant/employee has to empty these things. It is best people be responsible for their own items, it will mean however that your poop from your dog will have to cool it in the bag whilst you go for the rest of your walk and play time. I am a dog owner, but you didn’t have to purchase one as did I.
It seems the public in general do not give a darn about a lot of things. Garbage, as long as it vanishes, is no longer theirs. One thing you must know, in court, in order to prosecute these people who leave it everywhere, you need a photo of them or a video of them in the act or they are not fined or given public service. Good luck with your quest for the cans (hope that helps a bit).
Don Richardson
Shawnigan Lake