City to pilot big-bin program in 2027 to combat illegal dumping

Edmonton city officials are tackling illegal dumping through a multi-pronged approach, including a large-item collection pilot project launching in 2027.

The crux of the issue, according to Ward O-day'min Coun. Anne Stevenson, is not the move to every-second-week garbage pickup but rather residents' failure to sort waste properly. "What is driving a lot of the bins filling up is the residents aren't sorting their waste," Stevenson said. "It's not only waste, but also the recycling and food scraps. So the solution to that is not necessarily more frequent pickup, the solution to that is better sorting." The city already offers an excess waste program for multi-unit properties — either scheduled pickup for $6.25 per month or on-demand collection at $23 per cubic yard.

Property owners currently absorb cleanup costs even when they can prove furniture or appliances came from outside their property. In response, Ward pihêsiwin Coun. Mike Elliott put forward a motion directing administration to explore reimbursing property owners for cleanup using fine revenue; committee approved it unanimously, with a report due back in November.

Other improvements in development include expanding free hours at Eco Stations to weekdays, installing cameras at dumpsters to record licence plates, and increasing fines for illegal dumping. The city is also looking at either a pre-scheduled or on-demand large-item collection system, with the pilot running citywide in 2027.