Pubdate: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 Source: Surrey Leader (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Surrey Leader Contact: http://www.surreyleader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1236 Author: Kevin Diakiw Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?208 (Environmental Issues) METH MOP-UP COSTS MOUNT Toxic chemicals from clandestine drug labs are costing this city a bundle, with expenses climbing after three dumps were found this month. Last week, two large meth dump sites were found in Clayton, and on Friday, a third was discovered by police at 28 Avenue and 184 Street. Surrey paid private firms more than $85,000 last year to clean up wastes from methamphetamine labs and marijuana grow operations. Some of those costs are recovered from homeowners when labs are seized by police, but taxpayers are on the hook for chemicals dumped in public areas. A company disposing of the wastes says business in the region has been booming. Sean Barton, project co-ordinator with Hazco Environmental Services, said since 2005, toxic clean-up from illegal labs and grow operations has jumped by about 30 per cent. "We have seen an increase over the last two years in particular, both in labs that are busted by the RCMP and the dump sites," Barton told The Leader Thursday. "The dump sites are generated two different ways - -- either by an investigation that has spooked the owners, or labs that are expended, they're finished, they just want to get rid of everything and move on." Barton said the company's environmental services division has grown by more than 30 per cent in two years and emergency response has become a full-time position. He attended a recent clean-up in Clayton, where about 20 barrels of toxic waste -- believed to be remnants from a methamphetamine lab -- were dumped at two locations. As of Thursday, the final mop-up on the two Clayton sites was complete. On Friday, three or four more barrels were found about 300 metres east of East Kensington Elementary School at about 28 Avenue and 184 Street. Clean-up at that site wasn't expected to begin until Friday afternoon. Barton said the company's task is very specific. "Our job is to identify, segregate, package for transport and then dispose of it," Barton said. "On the disposal side, it's chemical dependant." Some of the more benign ingredients can be taken to special landfill sites, but the majority of it has to be burned at industrial incinerators in Swan Hills, Alberta. Vivienne Wilke, Surrey's general manager of finance and technology, told The Leader Wednesday the city spent about $85,000 on clean-up last year. "That would include the grow ops as well as the meth labs," Wilke said. She expects 2007 clean up costs to be much higher after the Clayton dump. It's estimated the costs of that clean-up will be more than $50,000. Mayor Dianne Watts said Thursday the city is in a tough position when it comes to discarded chemicals. "When they dump the material, they do it in the middle of the night in a remote area," Watts said. "So it's very hard to catch these individuals. Unfortunately, the city has had to pay for the expenses of cleaning it up." She said the city can continue to call for prohibiting the sale of the materials used for drug labs, and ensure the public is aware of the issue so it gets reported. Coun. Marvin Hunt believes the city has means to recover some of the costs. He wants to lobby the province for money received through proceeds of crime legislation. He'll likely bring a motion before council to that effect. Anyone witnessing illegal dumping is urged to call the RCMP non-emergency line at 604-599-0502. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom