Anand Sharma, the manager of 113 West condo in the southwestern part of Edmonton, spotted a television among overstuffed recycling and trash bins. The condo staff will transport the TV to the eco station, despite not knowing its origin, to avoid risking missed municipal waste collection for the week.
Dumpsters in condo and apartment complexes across Edmonton are filled with mattresses, couches, washing machines, and even exercise bikes. This issue has prompted the city to consider implementing new measures to address illegal dumping. Potential measures being discussed by the utility committee include more free eco station days, a public awareness campaign on illegal dumping, educating condo and apartment managers on proper waste disposal practices, increasing fines, and implementing a large item pick-up program.
According to a committee report, 73% of property managers stated that they have resorted to hiring private waste disposal companies to handle illegal dumping issues. Sharma highlighted the financial burden on condo corporations to maintain cleanliness and prevent illegal dumping, which can lead to administrative challenges.
Sharma emphasized the additional strain on condo owners who already pay high fees for garbage and waste services to the City of Edmonton. He noted that illegal dumping has worsened due to waste volume limits and the introduction of organic waste green bins, resulting in reduced garbage collection by city crews.
Councilor Keren Tang acknowledged the challenges with waste sorting in condos and apartments but stressed that items like mattresses and construction materials should not be disposed of in residential waste. Tang advocated for providing services directly to residents, such as organizing a large item collection day, to address illegal dumping more effectively.
Enforcement of illegal dumping poses challenges, as property managers must provide witness statements and appear in court to successfully prosecute offenders. Despite issuing 240 tickets for illegal dumping at apartment and condo buildings over a five-year period, 60% of property managers expressed dissatisfaction with the slow and cumbersome enforcement process, leading to unaddressed dumping incidents.