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Surrey, B.C.
Canada
199 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 12:20 AM
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So far all I see is people being so upset about the garbage at the side of the road and wanting to complain to someone about it. How about a more proactive approach which will get it cleaned up? Start a Junkathon where we all go and haul in the garbage. Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest item, the most collected by a group, the most unusual etc., etc.. This can be followed by a big BBQ and party. We did this in Jasper many years ago and the Parks Branch loved us. Invite a newspaper, a politician and a TV channel and you have got it made.
The benefits are numerous:
Positive publicity for CT ( environmental conscience is alive and well )
Business entities will be willing to donate prizes to get publicity.
The Mayor or other politicians will get involved.
The City will be spared the expense of doing it themselves and will donate a garbage compacter.
CT hikers in that area will have less to complain about.
The Clean Up area can be any size.
Great social interaction for all who partake.
Call me naive or simplistic if you must, but I am just throwing ideas out there. I do not consider myself capable of heading such an event, but I will do everything else.
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Edited by - RollingR on 03/28/2012 12:27 AM
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27 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 07:14 AM
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I'm in full support and will gladly participate in such an initiative. I do not feel that I have the skill required to organize such an event, but will be more than happy to assist in the planning. The Norrish Creek area is beautiful and should be maintained as such.
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Mission, B.C.
Canada
51 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 11:13 AM
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| This sounds like a great idea. Even if it is on a smaller scale, such as picking a day for all that enjoy this area to meet and do what needs to be done. I've got a pick up to haul loads to the dump. Lots of us use this area, I'm sure we could put together a fair sized crew. |
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 | Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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 Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 11:21 AM
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I am interested.
Here are a couple of questions, raised from personal experience with looking at the Norrish garbage during work trips:
What to do about hazardous waste that can't be taken to the dump? I wouldn't be surprised if some of that stuff was meth lab trash with caustic and/or explosive chemicals. There's also an issue with one of us bringing more prosaic grow op trash to the dump without advance warning for the dump operators. Some of this stuff is getting dumped up the Norrish because if people try to bring it to the dump, they will get arrested.
Who covers dump costs? Do we chip in and split it?
Some of the stuff is on steep ground that might even require rappelling to get to. Should we leave this stuff or try and get it? How to do so safely?
What happens if we publicize that we are going to do a cleanup and as a result more garbage gets dumped?
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1448 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 11:31 AM
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Great idea RollingR I was thinking some of the exact same topics as dru posted.
Main concern being the possibly of hazardous chemicals
going to list some of the points Dur posted.
quote:
Originally posted by Dru
I am interested.
Here are a couple of questions, raised from personal experience with looking at the Norrish garbage during work trips:
What to do about hazardous waste that can't be taken to the dump? I wouldn't be surprised if some of that stuff was meth lab trash with caustic and/or explosive chemicals. There's also an issue with one of us bringing more prosaic grow op trash to the dump without advance warning for the dump operators. Some of this stuff is getting dumped up the Norrish because if people try to bring it to the dump, they will get arrested.
Who covers dump costs? Do we chip in and split it?
Some of the stuff is on steep ground that might even require rappelling to get to. Should we leave this stuff or try and get it? How to do so safely?
What happens if we publicize that we are going to do a cleanup and as a result more garbage gets dumped?
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203 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 12:24 PM
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Google "Norrish creek cleanup".
You will come to a couple YouTube videos of guys who could/would probably assist in the cleanup. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 12:50 PM
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The only corrosive chemicals from a meth lab would be sulfuric, hydrochloric, or hydroiodic acid and sodium hydroxide. Assuming they are labeled they are easy to handle with gloves. (ex sodium hydroxide is "Drano", sulfuric acid is the liquid in your car battery). Be careful handling plastic containers - sunlight may have weakened the bottles so they can crumble in your hand.
The tricky chemicals to handle are also fairly expensive and difficult to obtain, so I would not expect them in the waste.
- sodium metal, stored in mineral oil (avoid water)
- iodine crystals (avoid skin contact)
- red phosphorus (avoid vapours)
There could also be cans of anhydrous ether which is not dangerous by itself. However it can decompose to peroxides which are spontaneously explosive. Cans of ether are distinctive - they are large, they have a small cap, and they are well labeled. If you find one, I suggest just leaving it. It is an expensive material so the can would probably be empty anyway.
http://methlabhomes.com/meth-lab-chemicals-list/
It is also possible that industrial waste has been discarded. Then all bets are off.
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Edited by - weedWhacker on 03/28/2012 12:51 PM |
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1058 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 1:07 PM
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| Awesome idea to pick up the garbage, but the whole celebration thing is a bit much. In my estimation, cleaning up garbage is a civil duty that any reasonable/rational person should do voluntarily. As soon as you start handing out prizes and demanding political/media attention for something, you elevate the profile of the activity to 'above and beyond', and perpetuate the mentality that it isn't a reasonable thing to just do for no reason. |
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27 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 2:03 PM
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I definately think that the discussion around toxic materials is a good one. I'm hopeful that the district will be willing to provide us with recommendations on how to mitigate the risks associated with disposal of potentially harmful substances, as I'm certain they deal with these types of clean-ups on a day to day basis.
The comment suggesting that incorporating some sort of 'fun' into the event and that seeking media attention will diminish our sense of civil duty to perform voluntary clean-up, I think is a bit much. In my opinion involving the community and communicating voluntary efforts is a way to inspire people to do the same and to build a greater sense of cummunity and care for where we live, which in my opinion, is a good thing. |
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58 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 2:47 PM
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The Geocaching community has organized a cleanup there the last two years, maybe more.
Last year we removed 2210kgs of household commercial and grow up I mean op waste.
here is a pic
This spring the BC 4x4 club and some of us Geocachers are doing the east and west Stave areas. again....
Before i got involved with Geocaching events I used to work with the Chilliwack Vedder cleanup society, they do 3 or 4 river clean ups yearly for the last decade or so.Easy to look them up and join in an event.
As well, in May is the The Great Canadian Shoreline Clean up, a great initiative for any who would like to get involved.You can sign up on their website to join or organize a clean up.
With the bigger clean ups often in that area the City of Mission will let us dump for free.
I personally have not heard of meth lab waste being found, I would suggest that be left to the police.
we have used a winch to haul stuff up banks, fun but not mandatory.I think i still have a video on Utube of that, search Stave clean up.
People are going to dump illegally no matter what, regardless of how well its been advertised that a clean up is happening.
And the social aspect is a highlight, for me anyway.The people who are willing to donate some time and effort are few and far between but aways wonderful people.Tim Hortons has been AMAZING at supporting thee kind of events as well, big or small they often will donate food and bevies.
All you really need are a few people, some garbage bags and you can make a difference.
or as I like to put it
Dont Pitch it out, Pitch IN! |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 3:04 PM
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Just to keep a bit of perspective on the toxic waste cleanup - Fukushima, reactor 2 is reading 7000 R/hr next to the primary containment vessel.
For comparison, the maximum allowed lifetime exposure for a registered atomic radiation worker (ARW) in Canada is 12 Rem - over their entire lifetime. A dose of 500 rem will immediately kill 1/2 of people exposed. There are serious prompt health effects at doses > 200 rem.
That will be an interesting cleanup exercise. The other three reactors are even hotter but they are too radioactive to measure yet.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/28/fukushima-reactor-radiation-levels
Note the article is incorrect - the fields are much more than 10x lethal. |
Edited by - weedWhacker on 03/28/2012 3:06 PM |
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Vancouver
1816 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2012 : 8:25 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
Just to keep a bit of perspective on the toxic waste cleanup - Fukushima, reactor 2 is reading 7000 R/hr next to the primary containment vessel.
For comparison, the maximum allowed lifetime exposure for a registered atomic radiation worker (ARW) in Canada is 12 Rem - over their entire lifetime. A dose of 500 rem will immediately kill 1/2 of people exposed. There are serious prompt health effects at doses > 200 rem.
That will be an interesting cleanup exercise. The other three reactors are even hotter but they are too radioactive to measure yet.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/28/fukushima-reactor-radiation-levels
Note the article is incorrect - the fields are much more than 10x lethal.
Uh-oh! The only good thing is that this isn't the reactor with plutonium.
Maybe this is worth a new topic in the Lodge. |
Edited by - sgRant on 03/28/2012 8:27 PM |
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27 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2012 : 06:58 AM
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I contacted Mike Younie of the district of Mission to request support for such an initiative by covering the dumping fees and providing supplies such as garbage bags, gloves and hazmat disposal equipment.
He's requested that I provide him with more details: number of people, occasion, when, type of vehicles to be used and where in Norrish the clean up will occur.
I'll be away April 1-22nd. If this event materializes, please feel free to email him these details and see what he says as far as support (Myounie@mission.ca)! I'll give him a heads up that someone other than myself may be contacting him in my abscence.
Great discussion :) |
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58 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2012 : 09:48 AM
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4WDABC 2nd Annual East Stave Lake Cleanup April 21st
by
kim
Published on 03-27-2012 10:54 AM
The 4WDABC is hosting a cleanup of the Lost Creek FSR in the East Stave Lake area on Saturday, April 21st, beginning at 9 am.
The staging area will be at the Davis Lake turnoff which is approximately 3 kilometers after Sylvester Road turns to gravel, on the left. 9 am will be the meet and greet along with general orientation and 10 am will be the cleanup start.
Thus far, we have commitments for 2 dump trucks to transport the garbage to the Mission dump. Mission has once again waived the tippage fees for our event.
Last year, the 1st annual cleanup was an outstanding success with over 110 volunteers collecting over 18 tons of garbage and steel.
We look forward to you joining us for another fabulous day of camaraderie, fun and an all round rewarding day of making our back country a better place to enjoy our pastime.
see you there. |
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58 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 1:40 PM
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Looks like Cters are not big on this stuff, Darn
Its Earth Day Tomorrow regardless, and as I posted there are many ways to help out
heres more info on the Geocachers clean ups
Thousands of geocachers walk into parks, onto trails, and visit other geocaching-friendly areas around the world to clean up the environment each year. They walk out with bags of trash and a sense of pride. They're taking part in Cache In Trash Out (CITO) events
CITO events are held all year long, but you'll have more than 140 to choose from on April 21 and 22 — the 10th annual International CITO weekend.
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Vancouver
Canada
286 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 1:54 PM
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| Where's the info? |
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Victoria, BC
Canada
419 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 2:10 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by LeadBelly
Looks like Cters are not big on this stuff, Darn
It's not so much the concept of a cleanup, it's that you went and mentioned two things a pure blood hiker will never ever associate themselves with... Geocaching and 4x4 groups. Throw in a couple dogs off their leashes and a memorial plaque, and you're showing a slug your salt collection. |
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chilliwack, bc
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 2:57 PM
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HagensborgViking:
I've never met a real live pureblood hiker before!
Do they walk by garbage or pick it up like us muggles? |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
1004 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 5:07 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by LeadBelly
Looks like Cters are not big on this stuff, Darn
I can't believe I am taking the time to respond to this statement, but I am glad you used the words "Looks like..." instead of stating it as fact. Just because you don't see it mentioned on CT or people posting pictures on the internet of the cleanup work they have done, either at Norrish or elsewhere, does not necessarily mean it has not, or is not being done.
I know, and have known many volunteers in my time that prefer to do their volunteer work quietly, without the fanfare. |
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58 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 7:47 PM
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The info is in my earlier posts.
and I wanted to get a rise, and it worked 
I know many many volunteers, no hikers though....
and its not the fanfare Im interested in, but awareness and more bodies.
Plus wow on the elitism, if hikers threw a clean up event Id be there too, fishermen geocachers truckers fish hatcheries enviro advocacy groups I must have been slumming all these years, who knew...
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Port Moody, BC
169 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 8:42 PM
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| I've seen this scene over and over and I think our generation has to be of the mindset to make things and leave things better for future generations whether you have kids, grandkids or not. As things stand, there are many out there that treat our wildlands as a garbage dump with all the garbage dumping that goes on. It's sad this if is the best we can do for this current generation and lessens my hope for future generations. |
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Norrish Main Garbage
