Apartments and condos saddled with illegal dumping, city seeks fixes
Property managers report hiring private waste companies to handle dumping, with costs ultimately passed to residents.
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Edmonton's condo and apartment buildings are drowning in illegally dumped items — mattresses, couches, washing machines, exercise bikes — and the city is weighing new measures to clamp down on the problem.
The issue has worsened with waste volume limits. As organic waste green bins roll out, city crews collect less garbage, creating pressure on residential dumpsters. Property managers report 73 per cent now hire private waste disposal companies to handle illegal dumping, pushing costs onto condo owners who already pay the city for garbage service.
"They're already paying the City of Edmonton fairly high rates for garbage service and waste services. And now they're being extra taxed," said Anand Sharma, condo manager at 113 West.
The city's utility committee will consider several measures next week: - More free eco station days - A public awareness campaign about illegal dumping - Education for condo and apartment managers - Higher fines (currently $250 for small items, $1,000 for large items or construction waste) - A large-item pick-up program
The biggest enforcement challenge: property managers must provide witness statements and appear in court to prove a case. Even then, 60 per cent of property managers indicated the process is unlikely to result in a conviction.
Coun. Keren Tang emphasized that illegal dumping is distinct from three-stream waste sorting struggles. "Let's deal with the problem with the right tools," she said. She's particularly interested in a large-item collection day — other Canadian cities already offer this service — rather than forcing residents to transport bulky items themselves.