Need for provincial toxic waste sites
The disposal of toxic soil in the Shawnigan watershed is a Cowichan Valley issue. Now Campbell River is also facing this same problem. These two examples define a need for proper toxic waste policies, procedures, and dump sites.
Toxic products and waste are generated by our modern production systems in providing goods and services for public consumption. The development of toxic waste disposal policies, and procedures for proper safe disposal, logically resides with the B.C. government rather than each municipality.
These two examples identify a problem of toxic waste disposal which the provincial government must address. Now is the time for the provincial government to investigate the nature and magnitude of the problem and develop policies and plans for the disposal of toxic waste. Dumping of these wastes in proper disposal facilities is one solution, but development of alternative disposal methods such as incineration must also be systematically investigated/researched.
It is recommended that the provincial government address this problem of proper disposal of toxic wastes.
Gerry Masuda
Duncan