Environment and Conservation
April 23, 2015
The following is being distributed at the request of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board:
Protecting Healthy and Clean Communities
MMSB and Crime Stoppers Seek the Public�s Support in Combating Illegal Dumping
The Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) and Crime Stoppers are encouraging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to take an active role in protecting their communities and report suspicious activity related to illegal waste dumping. Through a new partnership, MMSB and Crime Stoppers have launched a public awareness campaign to deter potential offenders from dumping their garbage at unauthorized sites throughout the province.
�Illegal dumping of waste is a serious and unnecessary problem that poses significant environmental, financial and health risks to our communities. This is an offence that can easily be avoided by properly disposing of items through municipal collection services, recycling programs, special collection events and public drop-off facilities.�
- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation and Minister Responsible for the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board
Anyone can anonymously report suspicious activity simply by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or emailing or texting Crime Stoppers. The public is asked to take note of what they see and pay particular attention to licence plate number, colour and make of vehicle, location and time of day. For more information, visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com. 
�MMSB is pleased to work in partnership with Crime Stoppers to send a clear message that illegal dumping is a crime punishable by a fine up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment up to three months, and that the public has a safe and convenient means to report suspicious activity through Crime Stoppers without being identified.�
- Mike Samson, Chief Executive Officer, Multi-Materials Stewardship Board
Promoting Crime Stoppers as a province-wide point of contact for reporting illegal dumping can also help improve data collection, which is critical to better understanding the nature, extent and cause of illegal dumping in the province and in helping implement effective strategies.
�Crime Stoppers of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to cooperatively working with the public, media and law enforcement agencies to help solve crime, and we look forward to fostering a strong partnership with MMSB. We want the public to know that in addition to offering cash awards, we also guarantee anonymity to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest or laying of charges against criminal offenders.�
- Mark Brown, Chair of NL Crime Stoppers
The MMSB and Crime Stoppers partnership is funded through a $45,000 commitment from the Waste Management Trust Fund over three years. The new partnership builds on MMSB�s Illegal Dumping Surveillance Program that provides participating communities from across the province with technology and training to implement effective surveillance and enforcement programs within their jurisdictions.
QUICK FACTS
- MMSB and Crime Stoppers are encouraging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to help stop illegal dumping of waste.
- Anyone can safely and anonymously report suspicious activity by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or emailing or texting Crime Stoppers. For more information, visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com.
- Illegal dumping is a serious problem that can pollute land and water, negatively impact wildlife and lead to substantial cleanup costs.
- A public awareness campaign focused on deterring potential offenders from dumping their garbage at unauthorized sites has been launched including a media sponsorship, social media outreach and illegal dumping signage.
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Media contacts:
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Jennifer Collingwood Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 689-8605 jennifercollingwood@gov.nl.ca |
Jill Thomas Myrick Director of Marketing, Communications, and Public Education Multi-Materials Stewardship Board 709-757-3696, 689-4795 jmyrick@mmsb.nl.ca |
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Mark Brown Board Chair NL Crime Stoppers 709-754-0354 chairNLCS@gmail.com |
2015 04 23 10:25 a.m.