Local towing yards full of vehicles they cant move
f you've ever tried to get rid of an RV, you're probably well aware of the uphill climb you'll face.
Last week, AM 1150 News reported on the struggles of the Okanagan Forest Task Force, as they come across often burned-out RVs found in the bush.
Mario's Towing Manager Nick Moretto says the issue is real – once people want to get rid of an old motor home, their options are very limited.
"I think the difficulty is that there's no destination, there's no disposal facility for motor homes at all – that's the problem at hand," he said.
"They're sold to the public, and then when it's time to get rid of them, not only just us – but the public has no options either."
Moretto says he thinks manufacturers need to take more responsibility, as they currently make products that are next to impossible to dispose of.
"There's avenues to get rid of your vehicle, Pick-n-Pull and companies like that. So what has the industry done to provide that type of an outlet for people who own motor homes?" he asked.
"It's confusing why they're sold, and then there's no plan. There seems to be A and B, and then there's no C."
He says he's had about 45 RVs dropped off at the yard in the last year and a half, and that they've actually had to purchase more land to accommodate them, and that the issue is that the process of dismantling old ones is onerous and fruitless – there's not enough money to be made on the parts.
Moretto says they often get into a vicious cycle.
"You get frustrated and you don't know what to do, and you've got to get it off the property because you sold your house, so you leave it on the side of the road, or you push it off the road with no plates, and then it falls onto the city bylaw or the police," he said.
"They call us (Mario's) to remove it, as the city contractor, and then we take it to the yard. Let's pretend we pursue the person, and try to get paid. The person might say 'okay, I'll pay you, but I can't take the motor home back. I just can't handle it, I don't know what to do with it.' And then we're back at square one."
Solid Waste Supervisor Scott Hoekstra says the Glenmore Landfill will accept the garbage portion of it, but can't dismantle it for you, and that you need to remove the wheels, axels, engine and battery, along with hazardous materials like propane cylinders.
