Don’t risk the fine: Dump your junk at Calgary’s Community Cleanup

With the City of Calgary’s community cleanup beginning Saturday, officials are reminding residents of the consequences of illegal dumping.

Illegal dumping involves leaving furniture, appliances, garbage, renovation materials, or other waste on public or private property without permission.

It’s also against the law, with offenders potentially facing up to $10,000 for each offence.

Damian Cole, the deputy chief of community safety, says there’s been a surge of dumping in recent years, namely in the northeast communities.

“Illegal dumping isn’t just unsightly. It creates real safety risks and pulls City crews away from other essential work,” he said.

“Every illegal dumping call means resources are redirected from services Calgarians rely on.”

He says dumped waste attracts pests, creates fire hazards and makes parks, alleys and open spaces feel unsafe, along with placing an “unfair” burden on neighbours and communities living with the impacts.

Steve Claude has been a Dover resident for about 30 years and says illegal dumping is an ongoing issue, with land near the railway tracks littered with trash on and off.

“It upsets us, it’s a clean ally other than the bit of garbage that gets dumped. We don’t want that to become a habit,” he said.

The city says that in 2025 they received 30,000 complaints of illegal dumping.

Sharon Howland, the lead for waste and recycling in the city, says certain lands see more illegal dumping than others.

“Vacant lands around the city that are awaiting development, maybe they have been stripped and are just waiting for construction to begin is very tempting for people,” she told CityNews.

The free community cleanup is an opportunity to remove any of this waste, the city says.

Starting April 25, Community Cleanups run every weekend until September, and are open to all Calgarians to dispose of oversized household items that don’t fit in a black cart.

The first ones take place in Canyon Meadows, Glendale, Hamptons, Dover, North Glenmore Park, and Parkdale.

More details and event dates are available on the City of Calgary website.

Other options to dispose of waste legally

When it comes to disposing of waste, the city recommends several legal options based on the size of the load.

Cart/bin collection:

Recommended for everyday household garbage, recycling and compostables. Items must fit inside the right cart and be set out correctly. Large or extra items along fences or near carts or dumpsters are not collected.

City Eco Centres: 

The city says to use eco centres for bulky items, such as furniture, appliances and construction materials. Fees may apply.

Private junk removal services:

Removal services are recommended for large loads, quick removal or when transport is an issue. Licensed junk removal companies can haul away unwanted items for a fee. The City of Calgary says it doesn’t provide these services.

The city has a free online search tool here, which shows approved disposal methods across Calgary.

Reporting illegal dumping

If you see illegal dumping, the city says to report it as soon as possible via 311 phone call, 311 app, or online.

Details such as the exact location, photos, and the license plate number of the vehicle involved should be provided to help the investigation and a faster cleanup.

“Proper disposal shows respect for your neighbours, your community and the shared spaces we all rely on,” Cole said.

“Using the right disposal option helps keep neighbourhoods safe, clean and accessible for everyone.”

Claude believes taking proactive approaches could also help in combating illegal dumping.

“Take the children out of school and have them go around and pick up garbage in their own little neighbourhoods, their school yards and stuff to teach them that we got to keep the place clean,” he said.