Littering Along Highways
Res #: 10-08A
Number: 10
Year: 2008
Midterm: No
Expired: Yes
Responses Received: No
Departments: Saskatchewan Environment
Resolution No. 10 – 08A
Littering Along Highways
WHEREAS the highway right-of-ways are littered with garbage, making Saskatchewan look untidy;
BE IT RESOLVED that the government reinstate garbage bins to be placed at the old waste disposal sites, and place heavy fines on people that litter.
Response from Honourable D. Wayne Elhard, Minister, Highways and Infrastructure
The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure supports the intent of the resolution and does have proactive measures in place to ensure that litter is cleaned from our provincial highway rights-of-ways (ROW).
The Ministry's Adopt-A-Highway Program is a way for interested groups or participants to help beautify Saskatchewan right-of-ways by picking up litter and trash from a specified section (minimum of 3 km) along provincial highways.
Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure has a safety policy in place to assure safety for all individuals involved in the Adopt-A-Highway Program. Interested parties need to fill out the requied permit and forward to the nearest Area Office. Once the permit is approved, the Ministry will order and erect Adopt-A-Highway signs along the specified right-of-way. detailed information regarding the program can be found on the Ministry's website at www.highways.gov.sk.ca/adopt-highway.
In addition, the Ministry is currently working with a consultant to complete a truck rest stop adequacy study. The consultant will review alll pertinent Ministry policies and conduct a survey of the current practices in other jurisdictions. The consultant will consider the need for truck rest stops in relation to the Transportation Association of Canada'a (TAC) most current proposals for the National Highway System network. The consultant will also conduct stakeholder consultation meetings to obtain feedback from the motoring public.
I must note here that some litter receptacles that were placed at highway rest stops for use by the motoring public had to be removed from certain locations where the receptacles could not be maintained because area residents were leaving household garbage and abusing the intended purpose of the receptacles.
As well, the province does have in place The Litter Control Act, administered by the Honourable Nancy Heppner, Minister of the Environment, which has a schedule of fines for those caught in the act of littering. However, the enforcement of punitive measures becomes a difficult challenge. While I can not speak for my Cabinet colleague, I understand that public education and anti-littering campaigns are often very effective in controlling the incidents of littering.
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