Responding to break-ins at eco-depots continues to be a problem in the Kamloops area.

The Thompson Nicola Regional District is continuing to work with RCMP when those break-ins happen, according to environmental services manager Jamie Vieira. “I would say it’s a common problem, that on a fairly regular basis we’re going to have a break in at one of our 28 transfer stations around the region.”

Vieira says the direct cost is having to fix property, and the indirect cost is trying to prevent future break ins. “We’re increasing security cameras, monitoring on our sites. And security with other mechanisms, like heavier-duty fencing, gates, that sort of thing.”

He says they’re fairly small, petty items that people are stealing. “Like old recycled batteries, old TVs, things like that. But the frustration is because they’re causing damage to the site, making messes on the site by leaving things out. And there’s a lot of hazards on the site being in there while it’s closed in the dark.”

Vieira says break-ins have forced staff to plan further. “In terms of how we operate the sites, there’s a significant cost. Our bigger sites we design now to have proper surveillance, heavy-duty high fencing at some of the sites. The direct cost of damage is cutting locks, cutting fences. Even in cases of breaking down doors and using zip grinders to break locks on seat cans, and things like that.”