Marc-Andr茅 Gagnon is on a mission to educate locals and visitors about the downside of free pallets being used in the corridor for campfires.
Squamish currently has a campfire ban in place, as does Whistler, but this is a longer-term and larger issue than now or even this summer.
Some businesses, likely as a community-minded gesture, Gagnon notes, are leaving their pallets out for the taking.
What they may not realize is that some people use this as fuel for campfires, and when those pallets are burned, the nails holding them together are left behind and contaminate the environment, including the sand and rocks of the beaches and riverbanks.
Moreover, people extinguishing their fires with sand create a mix of ashes, rocks, nails and other residues from tin cans, plastic, beer caps and the like, he added.
He noticed this was a problem on the banks of the Mamquam River, near the golf course.
When The 小蓝视频 visited the spot on June 22, there were seven spots where campfires had burned.
Having such hazards in a place like Canada is something Gagnon finds inconceivable and unacceptable.
"You have our children here playing in the sand full of rusty nails, like in your face. It's, to me, it's impossible," he said.
"When the water level rises in the fall and winter, all the nails will be dispersed everywhere, making the beaches, trails, and river bottoms hazardous for everyone."
Gagnon weighed approximately 45 nails at 0.36 pounds (about 163 grams), estimating that he has collected around 35 pounds (15 kilograms) of nails so far 鈥� equivalent to roughly 100 burned pallets.
Solutions
Gagnon has several suggestions to deal with the problem.
- Post educational signs by the river explaining the issue to the public.
- Post educational signs about the 鈥淟eave no trace鈥� principle.
- Mention the issue to the business offering free pallets and stop them from doing so.
- Incentivize businesses to dispose of their pallets at the landfill at a lower cost.
- Organize a community clean-up to restore the beaches and river banks to their natural state.
"I鈥檓 not sure what the final solution is, but I think we should raise awareness on this issue and educate our population on how to make campfires that don鈥檛 end up like a pile of burnt trash on the beaches and river banks," he said.
He has gone to several businesses in town to let them know the unintended consequences of giving away free pallets.
"Some businesses have already changed their practice and removed the pallet piles they had by the street. So that is positive news," he said.
He has also had positive feedback from some local organizations that want to help campaign.
Campfire ban in place
The District of Squamish's manager of communications, Rachel Boguski, said the municipality appreciates the "community-minded and thoughtful concerns" raised regarding nails being left behind when free pallets are used for waterside campfires.
However, she said the District does not have a bylaw that regulates the disposal of pallets, as there is no mechanism by which businesses can be required to vet the end-use of materials they give away for free.
"Furthermore, businesses are encouraged to give away free materials that can be reused or repurposed, as it diverts material from the landfill," she said.
The District continues to enforce the current campfire ban that is in effect.
"Fires in any public space are strictly prohibited within District of Squamish boundaries, and Squamish Fire Rescue and/or Community Bylaw Services respond to reports of all unpermitted fires," Boguski said.
Additional signage will be posted at key locations to increase awareness that fires are not permitted along riverbanks, she added, in addition to public messaging regarding the importance of leaving no trace.
Residents are encouraged to help keep our community safe by reporting fires right away by calling 9-1-1, she added.
Asked about the issue, the Squamish Chamber of Commerce declined to weigh in at this time.
However, executive director Anne Mackenzie said, the chamber "is always happy to share resources and information, and support in any way we can."
