Illegal Dumpers in Alberta Could Face $1 Million Penalty and Jail Time Under New Rules

Smoke rises from a smouldering landfill fire at the ECCO Recycling landfill in southeast Calgary on Sept. 14, 2026. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta plans to crack down on illegal dumping of garbage by fining individuals up to $100,000 and corporations up to $1 million, with offenders potentially facing 30 days to six months in jail.

Premier Danielle Smith announced on Sept. 30 that her government would introduce legislation this fall to strengthen penalties for illegal dumping and increase oversight of higher-risk waste transfer and storage centres.

The proposed amendments to the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act would establish minimum fines of $10,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations. Courts would also have the authority to impose jail sentences of at least one month and up to 180 days.

“Those who make the mess should bear the consequences for it,” Smith said during a news conference.

The province said polluters have left garbage and construction debris along roadsides and on farmland, private property, and public lands, leaving landowners and municipalities responsible for cleanup.

“Cleaning up after illegal dumping activity can cost a municipality hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, ultimately passing the cost on to residents and taxpayers,” Smith said.

Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said existing fines fell well short of covering cleanup costs, although he said that he did not have firm figures for costs across Alberta’s municipalities.

He said illegal dumping placed a particular burden on smaller rural municipalities, which sometimes had only a few employees and faced stretched budgets while providing core services.

The province said Calgary received roughly 30,000 complaints and almost 9,000 service requests about illegal dumping on municipal property in 2025. Those complaints and requests led to 165 tickets and three fines, the province said.

Smith also said Edmonton received more than 600 complaints about illegal dumping on private property over the past five years and issued 240 tickets.

Mike Ellis, minister of public safety and emergency services, said he had sent a priorities letter to peace officers across Alberta identifying illegal dumping as a priority.

Ellis said peace officers and bylaw officers should handle such offences so police could focus on violent offenders and organized crime.

The province said the proposed amendments would also strengthen oversight of waste transfer and storage centres that handle larger volumes or store waste for longer periods.

The new registration requirements would apply to roughly 150 of Alberta’s 684 waste transfer and storage sites, the province said.

Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter encouraged residents who witnessed illegal dumping or discovered suspicious waste to contact their municipality or Alberta’s 24-hour environmental response line at 1-800-222-8514.

“Early reporting helps authorities investigate, identify those responsible, and reduce environmental impacts,” he added.