Mayor signs by-laws regulating disposal of personal protective equipment

Amidst disturbing reports of individuals discarding personal protective equipment (PPE) on both private and public property, Mayor Rob Burton enacted By-law 2020-058 on April 9, 2020, to regulate discarding of PPE to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.

By-law 2020-059, a by-law to amend the Litter By-law, 2011-045 and Parks By-law, 2013-013, was also passed, to create Administrative Penalties of $300 for littering in parks and other public places.

“We can all agree that face masks and gloves belong in garbage cans, not littered in our town, and now anyone caught not properly disposing of PPE can be issued a penalty under the by-law,” said Mayor Burton. “From a health and safety perspective, we now have a situation where somebody else has to pick these items up and expose themselves to the risk.”

The monetary penalties and/or administrative fees associated with the new by-law and amended by-laws are intended to encourage compliance with the by-laws and limit the risk to others during the COVID-19 emergency.

Earlier this week, the province announced that it is extending the state of emergency until May 12.

Residents are urged to follow the advice of the Chief Public Health Officer and stay home as much as possible.

“We are doing what we can to lessen the spread of COVID-19. We are still at a very critical stage. What we do now impacts the length of this pandemic. I ask that we all do our part and stay home,” said Mayor Burton.