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Thefts at landfill spark battery ban

Due to recent break- ins, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District has put up notices at the Salmon Arm landfill site saying they can’t take automotive batteries anymore.

Due to recent break- ins, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District has put up notices at the Salmon Arm landfill site saying they can’t take automotive batteries anymore.

“We were providing this service to the public,” says CSRD waste management co-ordinator Ben Van Nostrand, “but now we’re getting broken into and it’s costing too much money.”

Van Nostrand said that besides the cost of staff time, the CSRD has had to fix gates, replace locks and a storage bin that was stolen, adding this has happened three times within the past few months.

“I suspect someone was keeping an eye on it because it got cleaned out when the bin was full.”

Van Nostrand explains that within the past few years, the price of commodities went up and landfill sites have became targets for everything ranging from propane tanks to auto batteries. The batteries, he says, are worth a few dollars, but not the trouble it’s taking the thieves to take them. “It probably cost them more for gas money.”

Although the Salmon Arm landfill site isn’t accepting automotive batteries anymore, there are four places that will, free of charge: Lordco, Napa, Canadian Tire and Sorrento Parks and Service.

The province encourages manufacturers to have recycle plans for their products and Van Nostrand explained the CSRD tries to fill the gaps.

“Where there is no service for recycling, we look to provide that service. But industries that manage their own products should be doing so, not CSRD taxpayers.”

Van Nostrand said he hopes this won’t be an inconvenience for people who take the time to do their part for the environment.

“Hopefully the local stores will be more convenient for someone looking to recycle their battery.”

For now, all other CSRD landfill sites and transfer sites are accepting batteries.