Garbage has become a problem in uptown Leamington.
Manager of Environmental Services says concerns have been raised over illegal dumping and overflowing bins.
Shannon Belleau says the town will soon begin ramping up bylaw enforcement and educating business owners and residents on how to better manage their waste.
Belleau says uptown Leamington is an attraction and they'd like to keep it that way.
"Everybody wants to see that area improved and they want to see it thrive. It also works in favour for the business owners as well right? If they have a nice area that's clean and sanitary it's going to attract people and they're going to want to come to the uptown and shop and do their business there."
She says bylaw officers can now write tickets up to $500.
"We get complaints of odour and vermin in and around those areas. People do illegal dumping. On the enforcement side, we have increased the fines in that area. So our bylaw enforcement officers have the ability to go out and issue fines for people that are putting recyclables or garbage in the areas that they shouldn't be."
Belleau adds, they'll be targeting new business owners as well.
"They're looking at revising the business licensing procedure internally here at the municipality and as part of that we would incorporate questions regarding their plans for garbage disposal and recycling. At that point, when they see those questions, if they don't know how to properly answer them that would spark a conversation."
The town also plans to change recycling pickup in the uptown area to just one day per week rather than two to cut down on the amount of waste being placed at the curb.
The garbage pick up schedule will remain the same for the time being.