Illegal garbage dumping in Mississauga is spiraling into a costly and damaging problem, with city officials reporting more than 1,800 complaints in just three years. From parks and creeks to trails and sidewalks, piles of discarded waste are appearing across the city, forcing staff to spend nearly 900 hours cleaning up messes that range from tires and propane tanks to furniture, paint cans, construction debris, and household trash.
The financial toll is steep, with cleanup costs exceeding $100,000 annually, but the impact goes beyond money. City officials warn that the dumping pulls staff away from other important duties, harms the environment, and poses risks to both public safety and wildlife. Some of the hardest-hit areas include Lakeside Park, Malton Greenway, Glen Erin Trail, and Tom Chater Memorial Park, though illegal dumping has been reported citywide.
Items clogging public spaces include everything from clothing and wood scraps to barbecues, car parts, and broken fixtures. Hazardous materials such as oils, solvents, and pharmaceuticals are even being poured into storm drains, threatening Lake Ontario’s water system. Officials note that many dumpers conceal items in bushes, behind dumpsters, or under bridges, creating eyesores that attract even more waste.
Despite fines ranging from $500 to $100,000, enforcement remains a challenge. Offenders must be caught in the act or linked to dumped materials through evidence, something city councillors say is not happening often enough. Ward 10 Councillor Sue McFadden, frustrated by a recent discovery of trash dumped in Sixteen Mile Creek under the Doug Leavens Boulevard bridge, told council she personally searched the pile for an address to track down the culprit.
“I am up to here with people dumping their garbage in our creeks,” McFadden said, adding that the trash was found beside costly new pumping stations meant to help manage flooding in Lisgar. “We’ve had to spend staff hours and tax dollars to clean this up and nobody’s held accountable.”
City leaders continue to stress that dumping is not only illegal but also selfish, as many offenders choose convenience over proper disposal, assuming the city will deal with the mess. Officials are urging residents and businesses to use Peel Region’s Community Recycling Centres or make arrangements for safe waste removal rather than passing the burden onto taxpayers.
Until the message resonates, Mississauga’s battle against illegal dumping shows no signs of slowing down.