An Estevan business owner is speaking out after security cameras caught a group of young adults tipping over a recycling bin in a back alley.
Jenny Pettitt, owner of Jenny Joans, says she first noticed the mess when she came across the scattered contents behind her business. Curious about what happened, she checked the surveillance footage and discovered several individuals in their mid-20s deliberately pushing the bin over before walking away.
“It looked more like they were just tipping it over for the sake of something to do,” Pettitt explained. “Just mischievous and vandalism. But I don’t think they obviously aren’t aware of the ramifications of something like that.”
While she describes it as a minor incident, the aftermath still created unnecessary work. “Now the person who is in charge of this bin has to figure out how to clean it up, repair it, and also spend some time at the police station because you have to report these things,” she said. “It’s not serious, but it’s not appreciated, that’s for sure.”
Pettitt says her business hasn’t had major issues with vandalism before, though she’s aware that scavenging through recycling and garbage bins does sometimes happen in the community.
She hopes that sharing the footage helps bring awareness and prevents similar behaviour in the future. “These days people have surveillance, and I think it’s important to see what’s going on in your community and not just let it happen,” Pettitt added.
The incident has already drawn attention online, with many locals asking questions after seeing the video.