Advocate says jurisdiction gaps are fueling illegal dumping at Tsawwassen beach

A Delta, British Columbia community advocate says unclear responsibility among nearby agencies is contributing to illegal dumping at Tsawwassen Ferry Causeway Beach, an area beside sensitive habitat for birds and fish. Maxwell Sudermann, founder of Common Ground Community Care, said his group has removed nearly a metric tonne of garbage from the beach during several cleanups this year, including more than 450 kilograms in a recent effort at the end of August. He said abandoned items have included trailers and makeshift docks. B.C. Ferries says the causeway and southern foreshore area fall under its jurisdiction and says it carries out annual cleanups, hires sweeping services and is adding monitoring. The provincial transportation ministry says it maintains nearby roads but not the beach itself, while the Tsawwassen First Nation says it does not control the beach. The City of Delta also says the site is outside municipal jurisdiction. Sudermann says a longterm solution is needed so volunteers do not have to keep removing large amounts of waste.