By Adam Frisk
Concerns about nightly trespassing and illegal scavenging at local landfills led to a heated debate at last week’s council meeting, resulting in a scaled-back plan to test security cameras at a single disposal site.
While environmental staff initially requested a $30,000 budget to upgrade security at the Haliburton, West Guilford, and Kennisis Lake waste disposal sites, council ultimately voted to approve a $6,000 pilot project specifically for the Haliburton landfill.
Environment manger Ashley Dembinski explained to council that there has been a surge in after-hours activity, and that the Haliburton and West Guilford sites face “almost nightly” visits from trespassers who climb over gates or enter through snowmobile trails and wooded areas.
Dembinski highlighted in her report to council that individuals frequently scavenge through scrap metal, electronics, and clothing donation bins, taking revenue-generating materials. She also raised staff safety concerns, noting that employees often encounter unauthorized individuals while opening the sites early in the morning. She also noted that on Jan. 7, police were called to the Haliburton site after a manager witnessed several individuals on-site overnight. The incident resulted in at least one arrest.
The pitch for a $30,000 budget reallocation was met with pushback from the elected officials. Several councilors questioned whether the cameras would actually lead to prosecutions or simply serve as an expensive, ineffective deterrent.
“How far do we have to go here, and how much money do we have to spend?” Mayor Murray Fearrey asked, noting that $30,000 is a significant investment if it fails to stop the problem.
Councillor Carm Sawyer pointed to the history of enforcement and that past attempts to identify illegal dumpers through mail found in the trash resulted in little to no action.
Dembinski argued that cameras would allow for better enforcement under existing waste management bylaws.
“I definitely think we could generate some great revenue enforcing illegal dumping and trespassing,” she told council.
Rather than approving the full three-site upgrade, council decided to start small with the Haliburton landfill acting as a pilot project.
A maximum of $6,000 was approved, and money will be reallocated from the approved 2026 cover budget. Council indicated they would be willing to reconsider the other sites if the Haliburton pilot proves successful in identifying trespassers and aiding in enforcement.
Sawyer requested a monthly activity report once the cameras are installed.
