Spring sun exposes illegal dumping

The Paddy's Pond area of the Avalon Peninsula has been the target of people dumping trash illegally.

"So if we come up here to the right you can see. We've got some old furniture frames, speakers, piles of shingles an old barbecue, piles of litter," said area resident Carla Crotty.

There are signs in the area warning people not to dump there, but the dumpers did more than ignore them. They left trash, such as blankets, boxes and scrap metal, at the base of the signs.

"I can't understand why it is that people take the time to load up their vehicle with garbage and drive all the way in here. To take the time to do thatwhen you can just take it to the dump. That's what I don't understand," said Crotty.

She also pointed out that people who do it are risking an expensive penalty.

"It's a $10,000 fine if somebody does catch you, that's a hefty fine to pay when there's a cheap and easy alternative," said Crotty.

A couple of people whove camped in the area for about five decades say the problem is becoming overwhelming. Mildred and Ronald Ross said theyve taken dozens of spent propane tanks out of the area.

"My husband took it home and my son disposed of them at the dump. I dont know how they would do itand blankets and cans and garbage, microwaves you name it, it was there," said Mildred Ross.

Last week CBC News reported on complaints that illegal dumping is a growing problem in theGrand Falls-Windsor areaof central Newfoundland.