1 post tagged “dump”
I finally got to the Oshawa dump on Saturday and it was open. Now having run through the gauntlet that is the waste disposal facility, I'm more impressed with the operation. Coming from a rural upbringing, the dump to me was a large open pit of trash, speckled with seagulls and presided over by a solitary attendee in a dumptruck. I should've figured that in the Canadian epicentre of blue collar workers, being located in the same town as a massive General Motors plant, there would exist a proper waste facility.
Upon arrival, I was about fifth in line before the gatehouse. A stop/go signal light told me when to advance onto the scale and next to the booth where the first of many workers I saw asked what I was carrying. I replied that I had general garbage, computer components, and used oil. He asked me to proceed up a small hill where a stop sign requested that I halt and speak to another worker who told me exactly where to dispose of my unwanted possessions. When a spot opened, I backed my station wagon up to the edge of a dock, which found a large refuse bin on a lower level. I easily added my garbage to the bin, as did the van next to me. But he kept piling it in long after I was done.
Next I drove up to a pair of large wire bins that contained numerous computer parts, but mostly CRT monitors, of which I contributed two. I forgot to mention there were another eight or ten of these bins near the dump entrance overflowing with CRT monitors. Seems LCDs are just too popular to keep the old power hungry behemoths around. After also unloading a couple old computer cases, I pulled over to the hazardous waste area. I was instructed up a small set of stairs to the mouth of a large open funnel into a massive tank where I emptied the numerous jugs of old oil I've collected from various motorcycle services. A jug of coolant was added to a separate reservoir nearby. I placed my old sulphate-covered motorcycle battery to a skid bearing many others, and two empty paint cans were submitted to the attendant.
Now free of my burden, I drove to the exit weigh scales like all the other cars and trucks before me and a display instantly showed my required monetary contribution, a mere $20. I paid by credit card, though debit and cash would also have been accepted, and I was on my way with an empty car.
The operation was very impressive and it was being well-used. I figure upwards of a hundred vehicles were in attendance at the time I was there, always coming and going. I didn't see any open pit dump like I'm accustomed to, but the burms surrounding the facility alluded to its possible presence just beyond. I do believe I will be making another trip to the local dump soon, and might actually enjoy it a little more even.
