Drug Lab Dumped At Recycling

When smoke started pouring out of a bin of glass at the local recycling
depot Thursday afternoon, staff were concerned.

But as they pushed the portable deposit bin away from the building and
called the fire department, they didn't know they could be dealing with
remnants of an illegal drug lab.

Originally, the recycling staff thought it was some form of hazardous
chemical, but never thought it might be the product of illegal actions,
said executive director Kelli Speirs.

When firefighter arrived, however, they began examining the bin filled with
glass beakers and other containers, and quickly grew suspicious.

Police were then called in just after 4 p.m., evacuating the recycling
depot and the neighbouring transfer station (which apparently also received
some of the contaminated materials).

Staff were told it was believed to be glassware and some metal piping from
a dismantled drug lab, and they were going to be pursing a lead given by
one of the depot workers.

It just so happened that one of the workers took note of the vehicle
description and licence plate number.

The RCMP drug squad and a chemical expert were called in, all the items
were spread out on tarps for examination and then packaged up and taken
away at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

It made for an exciting afternoon for recycling staff, said Kim Day,
finance and personnel director for Ridge Meadows Recycling Society.

"These people were good recyclers," she added. "But are they dumb
criminals, or what?"

Police would only say they were still investigating the case.