Massive Industrial Tires Cleared from Campbell River Beach, B.C.
A successful joint effort has led to the removal of 11 massive industrial tires from a beach near Campbell River, British Columbia. This operation involved local and regional groups, spearheaded by the Greenways Land Trust.
Efforts to Remove Industrial Tires from Campbell River Beach
On Monday, a tugboat from Coast Island Marine transported the tires to a nearby marine terminal. Camille Andrews, the habitat management coordinator for the Greenways Land Trust, expressed pride in the community’s collaboration. She noted that nearly 30 volunteers contributed to clean-up efforts the previous week, gathering Styrofoam debris from the beach.
Environmental Concerns
The industrial tires posed a significant environmental threat as they contained Styrofoam. This material can fragment into small pieces, which are hazardous to birds and marine animals. Keely Dodds from the Greenways Land Trust highlighted the dangers of Styrofoam to wildlife along shorelines.
Collaboration and Challenges
The removal process presented challenges. Each tire weighed approximately four tonnes and was not easily accessible by vehicle. The tires were secured in two groups, likely having served previously as dock or barge elements. Nine different agencies and organizations participated in this complex operation.
- The City of Campbell River
- The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)
- Coast Island Marine
- Greenways Land Trust
- Various community members and volunteers
The DFO provided an environmental expert to oversee the removal. While two officers attempted to trace the tires’ ownership, their efforts were unsuccessful. The DFO has stated that investigations into the incident are ongoing and will not provide further comments at this time.
Future Actions
Greenways Land Trust is collaborating with the City of Campbell River and the DFO to create a task force. This task force will design a strategy for responding to similar incidents in the future. The commitment to protect the marine environment remains a top priority for these organizations.
The coordinated effort to clear the industrial tires not only addresses immediate environmental issues but also sets a foundation for better preparedness and action against similar challenges in the future.
