It appears the issue of illegal dumping is getting worse in Windsor.
A report to the city's Environment, Transportation and Public Safety Standing Committee shows complaints from residents have increased 29% from 2015 to 2018.
That's despite initiatives like the installation of surveillance cameras in different neighbourhoods and the city rolling out its bulk item collection program.
Councillor Fred Francis says more improvements are being considered like satellite depots, more cameras and a dedicated collection crew.
"We've seen areas that had illegal dumping where there's now surveillance cameras seem to have no more illegal dumping. Based on the deliberations council has had in the past, it seems to be trending in the right direction," says Francis. "Obviously we could always do more, it's just a matter of how much is it going to cost taxpayers and if what we're doing is working. Council will decide come budget time."
Windsor's Ward 1 councillor Fred Francis at a council meeting on December 17, 2018 (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
He's hoping more residents take advantage of the $10 bulk item pick-up as word about the program continues to spread.
"We haven't had the program for all that long, about two and a half years, and I think people would like to have it free, but nothing is free," says Francis. "If the city does have it free, then the taxpayers would have to pick it up. So it's kind of a user charge and if you have something that needs picked up and you can pay for it, I think that's a reasonable request."
He says residents can help by always reporting any illegal dumping they see.
"Since I've been on council and we've taken on the illegal dumping program, it's always come up at council," says Francis. "So if you know of illegal dumping or if you see anything on the corner or on public property somewhere, I encourage you to call 3-1-1 and then you can make arrangements to have that picked up."
The issue will be discussed further during budget deliberations.
At that time, Francis says council can decide if an investment is worth an increase in taxes.
Photo of illegal dumping taking place in an alley near Central Ave and Franklin St in east Windsor (Photo courtesy of Windsor councillor Ed Sleiman)