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.