Editor’s Note: Niagara Region has installed a new sign, which reminds people that dumping waste in The Commons is illegal. We commend the letter writer for bringing this to the public’s attention.

Dear editor:

As an environmentally conscious and concerned resident of Niagara-on-the-Lake, I would like to bring an illegal dumping problem to everyone’s attention.

I’m sure that anyone who enjoys the beautiful parks at The Commons has observed the illegal dumping that takes place at the parking lots that lead into The Commons (east end of John Street, John Street/Charlotte Street and the Kinsmen parking lot garbage cans).

It is a disgrace and is becoming a more frequent occurrence.

On Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. I took a picture of the garbage can in the parking lot at the east end of John Street, that leads to The Commons.

This photograph depicts a common scene at these garbage cans, usually on Monday and Tuesdays.

I walk my dog regularly at The Commons and have seen everything from small household appliances, carpets, clothes, used electronics and bags of household garbage dumped at the garbage cans in the parking lots over the years.

I can only imagine how frustrating this must be for the town employees who are responsible for emptying the garbage cans and also have to deal with the mess from illegal dumping.

And then there are all of the other obvious negative effects this practice has on the wildlife, environment and all of the visitors to the park.

My burning questions are: who is dumping their garbage in our parks, why are they dumping it and why aren’t we doing anything about it?

There are many ways available to all of us to dispose of our garbage appropriately. This is not one of them.

Certainly this must be a concern for the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Parks Canada. Perhaps the town and Parks Canada could collaborate on a solution to this problem.

It’s not going to be resolved on its own.

Sincerely,

Maureen Dodd

NOTL