Cameras To Gather Evidence of Illegal Dumping
[Updated with video] The Ministry of Public Works intends to use cameras to gather photographic evidence of illegal dumping, Minister of Public Works Craig Cannonier said in the House of Assembly today [June 10].
“Illegal dumping is the crime of disposing of solid wastes at locations other than those licensed to accept wastes,” the Minister said.
“Illegal dumping is a blight on our Island home often spoiling the most out-of-the-way places that are essential to residents and tourists alike for their solitude and natural beauty.
“The cost to clean-up illegally dumped materials is many times the cost to correctly dispose of them.
“Tax payer dollars used to clean-up dump sites could be better spent on benefits and programmes that would be more widely enjoyed by our island as a whole.
“Illegal dumpers don’t fully realize the severity of the crimes they commit. Waste crime, as illegal dumping is becoming more commonly known, is a multi-level crime that also impacts the customers who have paid for waste removal as well as legitimate businesses that pay waste-disposal tipping fees.
“The Waste and Litter Control Act 1987 was amended in 2011 providing for fines of up to $10,000 for illegal dumping and the use of video cameras to assist with the collection of evidence used for prosecuting those committing waste crimes.
“Placement of these cameras will be undertaken by the Education and Enforcement Officer who may be assisted by other ministry employees as and when needed as well as the Bermuda Police Service,” Minister Cannonier added.
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to advise this Honorable House and members of the Public of the Ministry of Public Works intent to use cameras to gather photographic evidence in support of offences in accordance with the Waste and Litter Control Act 1987.
Mr. Speaker, illegal dumping is the crime of disposing of solid wastes at locations other than those licensed to accept wastes.
Illegal dumping is a blight on our Island home often spoiling the most out-of-the-way places that are essential to residents and tourists alike for their solitude and natural beauty.
Illegal dumping poses significant human health, social, environmental, and economic costs with government spending thousands of dollars annually to remove illegally dumped materials.
Mr. Speaker, the cost to clean-up illegally dumped materials is many times the cost to correctly dispose of them. Tax payer dollars used to clean-up dump sites could be better spent on benefits and programmes that would be more widely enjoyed by our island as a whole.
Mr. Speaker, illegal dumpers don’t fully realize the severity of the crimes they commit.
Waste crime, as illegal dumping is becoming more commonly known, is a multi-level crime that also impacts the customers who have paid for waste removal as well as legitimate businesses that pay waste-disposal tipping fees.
Those who commit waste crimes break the law to enjoy quick, easy money while disregarding the beauty of our Island home and all who live here.
Mr. Speaker, The Waste and Litter Control Act 1987 was amended in 2011 providing for fines of up to $10,000 for illegal dumping and the use of video cameras to assist with the collection of evidence used for prosecuting those committing waste crimes.
Mr. Speaker, there will always be those who seek to spoil our community through the selfish act of illegal dumping. Their behaviour necessitates enforcement of illegal dumping legislation to bring home the message that illegal dumping is an egregious disservice to our island home.
Mr. Speaker, placement of these cameras will be undertaken by the Education and Enforcement Officer who may be assisted by other ministry employees as and when needed as well as the Bermuda Police Service. In accordance with the Act, notice of the approved recording device will be published in the Gazette for five business days.
Mr. Speaker, I will continue to keep this Honourable House updated on the progress that we are making to reduce and eliminate the problem of illegal dumping.
Thank you Mr. Speaker
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Category: All, Environment, News
About time! The fines levied will pay for the cameras in no time. Who dumps their trash like this anyway? Barbarians.
Should’ve had camera’s for that Jet Gate deal.
LMFAO
The jet hat deal cost us nothing though… and probably contributed less to our carbon footfrit than ppl throwing their trash overboard.
Just saying. Some issues aren’t necessarily political
Jews bay public wharf in Southampton is one of the places a camera is needed as the as in the past paint,car batteries old windows and tile as well.No one from govt has seen fit to put up a sign so people dump anything there.First we need a sign erected then a camera.
Yes, thats it. Put up a sign. Like those who dump because they are too lazy to take the trash where it belongs are going to pay attention to a sign. They are slobs & could not care less about their island naver mind a sign.
Good idea. Not sure why they warn the public there going to do this!! Just get in with it.if you are going to do it at all…….
Very pleased about this. Just a couple of days ago I was playing tourist, and decided to go exploring in some places I haven’t visited in awhile. At one particular spot, I was shocked and appalled at what I saw. Not only trash, but mattresses, furniture, old appliances, etc.
Disgusting!!! Make them pay!!
why do you have to tell the slobs about the cameras, catch them off guard! We always have to make sure the wrong doers get all their rights!
Great! So now the slobs know to look for a camera. Find the camera. Destroy it. Add it to the pile of dumped trash. Simple.
You really have to worry about the intelligence level of those in authority sometimes.
Even after being told the lazy bums will still do it,the worst part of human nature is a b/?ch I tell you.
Now about the boats on the rocks since the last hurricane…
Hey, adds character to the shoreline. Hasn’t that trawler on the rocks across from Stonecrusher been there since Fabian? There is another on the rocks in Elys. Been there for a long time. It seems to make its rounds from shoreline to shoreline from one storm to the next.
Where is Marine & Ports on these derelicts? Drag them off. Take them someplace where they will make a nice snorkel site & sink them. Tourists love a sunk boat to look at.
Vaguely remember something about a date after Fey and Gonzalo they were supposed to have been removed by.
About time!!! Put one up on Vesey Street please!!! You never know what you will see there from tvs, mattresses, windows, stoves, freezers, refridgerators, car parts, doors, air conditioners……obviously you have to put the items in a vehicle to dump there so keep going to the dump!
And all of it less than half a mile from Tynes Bay!! SMH.
I’d like to see the dumpers caught & made to take it all using only a wheelbarrow or on their backs. Think they would dump there again?
I would love to have one on my property, which is used as a public dumping ground. How do I get the hook up with the camera on my property?
The government partially creates the problem. People are unable to drop-off at Tynes Bay. It would be very frustrating for someone coming from the outer parishes with a car load of stinking trash to find that the drop off is closed because the government has reduced funding. This is no excuse, but government policy and the cost of dumping does contribute to illegal dumping. Don’t let the government or the litters off the hook.
A lot of stuff that is dumped is large items. So truck are doing a lot of the dumping. so if caught they should lose their truck permit.
Was so happy when one guy went to court for it! Guess what he was given a WARNING by the so-called judge, no fine! Hopefully the judges will do their job properly.
Hundreds Containers are every where, buildings are knocked down to make space for rusty containers.
@Onion Juice
Your a piece of work?
The Government is doing another positive thing for Bermuda and you just can’t resist from being an a$$.