Illegal dumping problem persists

Elmwood

Sage Creek

North End

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This article was published 19/06/2024 (575 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When unwanted trash starts piling up, what recourse do residents have?

That’s a perennial question, it seems, throughout Winnipeg, in both the city’s established neighbourhoods as well as near new construction projects.

Ken Ciecko is a resident of Ottawa Avenue in Elmwood, a resident street that borders the Bowman Industrial Park. For years, he has been calling for improvements to the gravel road, as well as the problem of illegal dumping in the area. Currently, a new small, multi-family project is being built at the east end of the block.

“There is currently garbage and litter everywhere around this construction site and I am frustrated that the property owners are not taking the initiative to maintain a clean and safe area for residents as well as workers,” Ciecko said. “Currently, I do not have the time or patience to be the Ottawa Avenue street monitor.”

Coun. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) said he is aware of the issues on Ottawa and other blocks in his ward that regularly deal with such issues, and that he is working with city staff to try and address them.

“We need to discourage people from doing this, but we need to give them help as well,” Schreyer said. “A lot of people do their part, they get their stuff to the garbage. But some people can afford that more than others.”

Schreyer added that the city does have cameras that are moved around throughout the year in areas that are known for illegal dumping.

“The city isn’t ignoring it, but how they deal with the information and share it with the Winnipeg Police Service, I hope it’s functional enough,” he said. “In the end, we have these bylaws for a reason. But those don’t mean much if they’re not upheld. With the combination of proper signage and dumping cameras, we’re hoping to get a better response.”

Earlier this year, the East Kildonan-Transcona community committee received a report on illegal dumping at the corner of Royal Mint Drive and Fermor Avenue, which had become a problem last year, with a number of large development projects being undertaken in the area south of the intersection. At press time, a large sign prohibiting illegal dumping stood at the corner of Warde Avenue and Kotelko Drive in Sage Creek, another area where development is booming.

“We’re aware of the dumping, and we’re aware that there are a few specific locations, which is truly unfair and unfortunate,” Schreyer said, adding that Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) “has been doing a lot of essential work on council in terms of having the city go around and pick up garbage — large-item-type stuff. But it’s not always possible.”