Court orders ECCO to stop storing dry waste at southeast Calgary recycling site
A judge ruled the waste management company flouted local laws and must immediately remove unauthorized materials from its facility between 24th Street and the landfill.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
A Calgary court has ordered ECCO Recycling and Energy Corp. to stop storing dry waste at its recycling site and remove the materials immediately.
Justice James Eamon issued the injunction Friday at Court of King's Bench, finding the company had shown "an open and continuous disregard" for local bylaws. The order applies to ECCO's recycling facility between 24th Street S.E. on the west side and the landfill on the east side.
ECCO was convicted in December 2025 of three counts under the City of Calgary Land Use Bylaw for making use of land contrary to its development permit. The company was fined $30,000 — the maximum of $10,000 per count — but has not paid. An appeal of those convictions was dismissed in June.
Photographic evidence showed by June 17, 2025 that ECCO had permitted "a significant amount" of dry waste to accumulate in an area designated specifically for sorting shingles. City officials issued a warning June 24. By August 19, dry waste was present on the access road and ground on the north end of the site. A stop order was issued under Alberta's Municipal Government Act shortly after.
ECCO had argued the Calgary Waste Bylaw allows certain activities without specific permission in a development permit, but the judge rejected that argument, noting ECCO is not generating waste on site — it is storing waste brought in from elsewhere.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas called the decision "significant," noting the injunction applies to the recycling site only. The city is pursuing a separate court order against ECCO's landfill operations, where a fire has been burning since September 6.
The facts
What did the court order ECCO to do?
Justice James Eamon ordered ECCO Recycling and Energy Corp. to stop storing dry waste at its recycling site between 24th Street S.E. and the landfill, and to remove the materials immediately.
When was ECCO previously convicted of bylaw violations?
ECCO was convicted in December 2025 of three counts under the City of Calgary Land Use Bylaw for making use of land contrary to its development permit.
How much was ECCO fined for those violations?
ECCO was fined $30,000, which was the maximum penalty of $10,000 per count, though the company has not paid.
Why did the judge reject ECCO's argument?
The judge found that ECCO is storing waste brought in from elsewhere rather than generating waste on site, so the Calgary Waste Bylaw's exemption for certain activities does not apply.
