Dumping yard waste can spread invasive species and add fire fuel to the forest.
Image Credit: UNSPLASH/Jens Lelie
October 02, 2023 - 2:30 PM
Environmental groups are working to clean-up literal tons of flammable garbage from the forest in Peachland.
The Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance is working with the Okanagan Forest Task Force to clear yard waste from the woods at the top of Sanderson Avenue, according to a press release.
So far, the task force and alliance have taken out 14,600 pounds of trash from the woods.
This is the second time the alliance and task force paired up to clean the local environment. In May, the partnership cleared 13,000 pounds of garbage from local watersheds.
Sheila Kerr, a member of the Okanagan Forest Task Force, said following a climate change demonstration in Peachland on Sept. 28 the cleanup was badly needed.
“(The task force) does this all through the Okanagan, and that spot is the worst we have ever seen. A big pile of wood remains, and the District of Peachland is going to help by chipping it up and removing it. We can’t leave that amount of flammable debris in place,” Kerr said.
Kerr warns people about the problems with dumping yard waste in the woods.
“People go up there and dump their yard waste. Besides it being illegal, it helps spread invasive species,” Kerr said.
Find out more about the Okanagan Forest Task Force here.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.
News from © iNFOnews, 2023