Yellowknife (Aug 15/03) - Looking across the salvage area at the Yellowknife dump, Kevin Kennedy shakes his head in amazement.

Kevin Kennedy of Ecology North shows some salvageable items at the Yellowknife dump. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

"On any given day, I could find at least 12 computers thrown out," the Ecology North volunteer says.

Many people feel the same way about the hidden treasures contained in the dump.

On Saturdays, a mini-traffic jam greets those hoping to pluck a pearl from the sea of debris.

That tradition should continue in some form, he says.

Craig Scott, also of Ecology North, also sees the need.

Both say it is important the city offers an alternative solution if liability concerns are an issue.

"We want them to provide the community with the opportunity for input," Scott says, indicating a public forum should be held.

A letter sent to city council July 2 from Ecology North offered salvaging options and Scott feels a proper solution will be found.

Mayor Gordon Van Tighem says everything the letter is proposing is what the city is trying to do.

"We adopted a solid waste strategy two years ago. The consensus is that salvaging would continue but not in its present unrestricted format," Van Tighem says.

Katherine Silcock, environmental coordinator in the city's public works division says she is encouraging public input to help find a solution to the problem.

"There was never a plan to ban salvaging," she says.

"Our big issue is public safety."

A combination of a high volume of vehicles, children who may wander, health concerns and heavy equipment moving about the site lead to a high liability issue, she says.

While Ecology North presented good solutions to the issue, she says they are nothing the city has not already considered.

Signing a waiver and registering one's name at the landfill gatehouse were offered by the organization or even a small-scale reuse type store which have proven popular in other parts of Canada were among the suggestions offered.

Silcock does not know when a permanent solution will be found, however.

"We don't know how long this will take. We want to try to come up with the best possible solution."