Some of the waste Megan Fletcher retrieved from the site near Englewood School of Crapaud, P.E.I. includes open needles, bottles and vials of medication. The Department of Environment says ServiceMaster of P.E.I. is contracted to clean the site next week, and the delay is due to scheduling challenges. Blaine Auld photo.

            In April, Megan Fletcher and her sister, Sarah, were walking their kids to play at Englewood School in Crapaud, P.E.I.

            While on a trail close to it, Megan looked over a cliff and saw a bottle. She ran down to take a closer look at it.

            That is when she found exposed syringes everywhere.

            She instantly became sick.

            “I felt panicked and scared to think I had run down the hill not knowing what I was running into.”

            As she went back up, she ran into a metal bucket.

            Inside, there was a bone.

            She became even more terrified.

            “I instantly thought that it could possibly be human remains.”

            Fletcher had nightmares that kept her from sleeping that night.

            The next day, she showed the school’s principal what she found.

            “We’re going to have to call the RCMP,” Randy Reardon said.

            The police analyzed the bone, confirming it was from an animal.

            The police also told the Department of Environment about the syringes.

            Six months later, they’re still there, and Fletcher is outraged.

            Fletcher, 36, is demanding the government to clean the medical waste near Englewood so the school and community of Crapaud are safer.

            While the waste’s origin is unknown, it is believed to be several decades old and dumped by a former clinic in the area.

            Fletcher said she is confused about how so much waste got there.

            “It’s just not something you would see every day.”

            The hazards are off a trail leading to Englewood School’s soccer field. 

            They include exposed needles, broken bottles and unknown medications.

            She said the possibility of someone stepping on a syringe is bad enough, but the added presence of drugs makes it worse.

            “If they got into the wrong hands and a kid ended up taking something…that could ruin them for the rest of their life.”

            She has noticed the trail change over time due to erosion and rainfall, which may have contributed to the waste being unearthed.

            She said finding the syringes has impacted her sense of safety.

            “You have no idea what has been dumped off anywhere.”

            Fletcher has raised awareness about the waste and even went to clean some of it herself but wants the government to step up.

            “It shouldn’t be to anybody else to have to clean that up and put themselves at risk when you don’t have the proper gear to do it.”

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            The waste has others raising questions.

            Reardon, the principal of Englewood School, was surprised to see it remain where it was found.

            He checked the area a few weeks after the RCMP told the Department of Environment about it.

            When he saw the waste was still there, he contacted the department himself.

            He said he was told a contractor was hired to clean it, but he did not see any response until the company contacted him six months later.

            “It just never happened. I don’t know why.”

            He added while the hazards are not directly on the school’s trail, they still need to be removed.

            “It is a concern that we want to get it cleaned up.”

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            A member of the government is just as surprised.

            Matt MacFarlane, MLA for Borden-Kinkora, was shocked to learn of the waste and that it had not been addressed at the time.

            He became aware of it in early July at a home and school meeting.

            He emailed former Minister of Education Natalie Jameson and former Minister of Lands Rob Lantz about the situation.

            Jameson forwarded his message to the Department of Environment, then replied to MacFarlane on July 11, briefly mentioning a contractor was arranged.

            Three months later, he still did not know who the contractor was, or when they would begin cleaning.

            He said he is upset at the government’s lack of response. 

            “Government needs to take responsibility at this point to attend and clean it up for the safety of the public.”

            MacFarlane wants a full investigation and cleanup into the site.

            He said he plans to follow up with Gilles Arsenault, the new environment minister, about the waste.

            “We can rest assured that I’m going to be bringing it up again.”

            The Department of Environment was contacted for comment on the contractor’s identity and reason for the delays.

            In an emailed response, officials said ServiceMaster of P.E.I. is responsible for cleaning the site and the delay was due to “scheduling challenges.” 

            It also said the work would begin next week.

            Fletcher said the government has not taken the matter seriously and is still angry over the lack of action.

            “I don’t think there’s any excuse for that.”

            She added she will continue to raise awareness as long as it exists.

            “[If] it’s that close to a school that could endanger children, and you got multiple phone calls and still do nothing about it, that’s negligence in my eyes.”