CORNER BROOK, N.L. — Western Regional Waste Management has closed its six transfer stations to residential drop off.
“The reason we’ve done it is because we’re seeing some increased residential traffic at the transfer stations,” said Josh Carey, chairman of the Western Regional Service Board, on Thursday.
“It’s more of a safety precaution at this point in time based on seeing that increase in traffic.”
Due to COVID-19, Carey said the authority doesn’t want traffic on the sites.
“Because we want to respect the social distancing that’s required and all of the other precautions that the province has issued.”
Some sites have more traffic than others, but Carey said it’s difficult to close some and not others, so all six — Long Range, Burgeo, Bay St. George, Hampton, South West Coast, and Wild Cove — have been closed until further notice.
The increase in traffic may have something to do with people being home due to COVID-19 and undertaking home improvement projects or an early spring cleaning.
Curbside collection will continue, and Carey suggests anything that can be put out as regular garbage be put out. People should hold on to other items, on their property, until the transfer sites can be reopened.
Stephenville Mayor Tom Rose hopes the change is short term.
“Any time, whether it’s a cost restriction or a closure restriction, any time you start restricting the ability of people to get rid of garbage and refuse you cause a lot of problems.”
He said that’s from an aesthetic perspective and an environmental perspective.
“Once people start getting rid of garbage in places they shouldn’t, or hoard it, it causes everything from rodents to impacts on the environment.”
Rose said he wasn’t familiar with the setup of the Bay St. George site but would think they operate in such a way that adequate social distance can be maintained.
Norris Point Mayor Joe Reid said he understands the change was made for health reasons.
“A lot more people were taking stuff to the transfer stations and it was becoming a problem.”
He’s not concerned the closure to residential drop off will result in an increase in illegal dumping.
“Not any more than ordinary,” he said, adding it was only early.
“It wouldn’t surprise me that you might see some extra dumping, but I just hope not.”
People in his community have to pass by the Long Range transfer station if they want to go anywhere and there have been incidents of people passing by the station and dumping things on old roads.
“So, some people are going to do it (regardless) what regulations you have.”
Twitter: WS_DianeCrocker