Illegal dumping: Your trash isn’t always someone else’s treasure

What do tires, paint cans, furniture, construction materials, yard waste and propane tanks have in common? They top the chart as the most frequently illegally dumped items across Mississauga – in places like parks, trails and green spaces.

Illegal dumping is when someone drops their unwanted items in public spaces instead of properly disposing of (or recycling) them. Dumping waste on City or private property without permission is illegal. It damages our natural environment, is costly to remove, poses a risk to public safety and is harmful to wildlife and human health.

Examples of illegal dumping

As you walk around the city, you are likely to see used furniture, filing cabinets, household waste, broken kitchen and bathroom fixtures, discarded wood pieces and car parts like tires and mufflers scattered about, found abandoned in parks or along roadways and sidewalks.

In Mississauga, construction, and renovation materials such as concrete, asphalt, drywall, tiles, paint cans and baseboards are commonly dumped on City property.

There are also examples of residents dumping motor oil, cooking oils, cleaning products, solvents and pharmaceuticals into the City’s storm drains (the square grates on the side of City streets) which contaminate the stormwater system and Lake Ontario.

Why illegal dumping happens

Those engaging in illegal dumping do so mostly for convenience. It’s easier to dump something in a nearby park or parking lot than wait for the weekly garbage pickup or make arrangements to properly dispose of it. Many people who illegal dump assume that the City will take care of it, not realizing how expensive and labour intensive it can be. They’d rather choose convenience than pay the extra expense to have it properly removed by a waste disposal company or take it to one of the Community Recycling Centres. But it doesn’t stop there.

There are individuals who discreetly try concealing their discarded items behind trees, dumpsters, within bushes, hoping to avoid detection. They don’t see it as an issue and don’t care about the impact their actions have on the community or City resources. In some cases, illegal dumping has encouraged others to add their own waste, adding to the pile of unwanted items – so the waste keeps piling up quickly adding to the problem.

Where items are being illegally dumped

Some parks and green spaces that have had the most frequent complaints of illegal dumping to Mississauga’s 311 call centre include Glen Erin Trail, Malton Greenway, Tom Chater Memorial Park, Carolyn Creek, Lake Aquitaine Park, Tillsdown Park, J.C. Saddington Park, Zonta Meadows and Mississauga Valley.

Illegal dumping by the numbers

In 2024, Mississauga’s 311 call centre received over 570 reports of illegal dumping and littering in parks and green spaces. So far this year, there have been over 380 complaints. Some commonly dumped items included: household waste, furniture, car tires, construction materials, clothing and barbecues.

According to Debris and Anti-Littering By-Law 219-85, those caught illegally dumping on City property can face fines ranging from $500 to $100,000. To address this, the City is focusing on preventing illegal dumping and educating residents on where they can dispose of waste properly.

Over the past three years, the City of Mississauga’s Parks division has responded to more than 1,800 service requests related to illegal dumping in parks. Staff have spent nearly 900 hours addressing these issues, which takes staff away from other important seasonal duties. Locations such as Lakeside Park, Malton Greenway and Glen Erin Trail saw the highest number of reported incidents.

How can you help?

While illegal dumping comes down to certain individuals and companies making poor choices, there are steps we all can take to keep our city clean.

Practise a circular economy approach

Ontario’s landfills are rapidly filling up with items that could have been recycled or reused. The next time you are looking to get rid of something, consider reuse either by selling, donating, giving to friends or family or offering for free pick-up.

By practising the circular economy approach, you can help reduce landfill waste by using items for as long as possible by repairing, refurbishing, or repurposing them to create a system where nothing is wasted.

Dispose of waste the right way

We all have a role to play in keeping Mississauga clean and litter-free. Here are some ways you can make a difference.

• When visiting a park, make sure to use waste containers or take waste home if the containers are full or if your waste is too large to fit (e.g. large bags or boxes, broken lawn chairs/umbrellas etc.)
• If you’re not sure how to dispose of your waste properly, Peel Region’s waste management can provide more information.
• If you see garbage and debris left in a park, report it online or call 311 (905-615-4311 outside city limits).
• If you witness someone unlawfully disposing of waste call 311 to report it. Gather and report as much information as you can, including the date, time, and the location where it occurred. If possible, provide a description of the individual involved, the type of vehicle they are using, the licence plate number, and a detailed list of the items they are dumping.
• For items not collected at the curbside or apartments and condominiums waste collection areas, residents are encouraged to look up where to drop off items using Peel Region’s Online Waste Sorter. Different Community Recycling Centre  locations accept different materials, sometimes for a fee.
• Tires are not accepted for curbside collection or at Community Recycling Centres. Tire manufacturers are responsible for proper disposal and the retailer or service provider who sold you the tires can provide this information. You can also review this map for locations accepting tires.
• Learn how to dispose of large bulky items or appliances properly.
• Moving to a new home and have bulky items or extra garbage to dispose of? Contact Peel Region to have your waste collected for free.
• Residents unable to meet the Region’s bag limit for garbage collection may purchase garbage tags online or by telephone at 905-791-9499. Peel Region also provides annual Garbage Exemption days where extra garbage is allowed. To find out when Peel Region offers these Garbage Exemption days, check your address in the collection calendar.

It pays to safely dispose of your garbage and unwanted items in a properly authorized location. By acting responsibly now, you help protect our natural spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Tags

• By-laws and Policy
• Enforcement and Fines
• Garbage and Recycling