County sees increase in illegal dumping of waste and household items

Road Operations staff responding to more reports of waste dumped on County roads

Leduc County is seeing a rise in reported cases of large-scale waste dumped on County roadways creating obstructions for motorists and locals.

“When illegal dumping takes place, it creates a domino effect that negatively impacts road users, County staff, residents and businesses,” says Garett Broadbent, Director of Road Operations and Agricultural Services. “Garbage carelessly dumped is a hazard and 100 per cent preventable as we have eight waste transfer stations located throughout the County.”

The following stations are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (on specific days) to receive household waste, compost, yard waste and recycling:

• Looma – 23058 Township Road 505A – Thursdays and Saturdays
• Mission Beach – 1453 Highway 616 – Wednesdays and Saturdays
• New Sarepta – 22241 Township Road 500 – Wednesdays and Saturdays (NOTE: starting July 4, opening every Thursday)
• Rolly View – 49342 Range Road 232 – Thursdays and Saturdays
• Sunnybrook – 49164 Range Road 22 – Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
• Thorsby – 28178 Township Road 494 – Thursdays and Saturdays
• Warburg – 48502 Range Road 32 – Thursdays and Saturdays
• Wizard Lake – 27139 Township Road 481 – Wednesdays and Saturdays

According to Broadbent, staff respond to regular reports across the County of household items, like mattresses, appliances and other furniture. In these cases, they deploy a couple of staff to load the item, or items, and then take it for proper disposal. When they receive reports of large-scale waste dumped on or near a County road, it requires more resources and time to address; sometimes taking up to eight hours to investigate, safely clear and remove from the site.

The consequences of these actions, once someone is found guilty, include provincial legislation and County bylaws ranging in fines from $120 to $810.

Visit Leduc-county.com/transfer-stations to learn more about the County’s transfer stations, disposal rules, transfer station access cards and general contact information. Residents can also haul waste (up to three ton or 2,722 kg per year) to the Leduc and District Waste Management Facility (LDRWMF). Residents will require a separate access card for LDRWMF.