Residents in the Parkdale neighbourhood are dealing with a big pile of trash that’s been growing for weeks.
Edmonton’s acting director of bylaw services, Keith Scott, said a ticket was issued in January in regards to the garbage and the homeowner was ordered to clean it up.
Then, a few weeks ago, when the snow began to melt, Scott said the pile began to grow. On the weekend, the city was notified of its size.
“This small pile has escalated into this very large garbage pile,” Scott said.
A notice of entry has been issued and a contractor will be cleaning up the mess on Friday. The bill for the cleanup, estimated to be between $550 and $600, will be given to the property owner.
The house is boarded up and the property is vacant. The city and the Edmonton Police Service believe someone is illegally dumping the trash on the property.
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“It makes it a lot trickier because it’s not the property owner that’s causing the mess,” Scott said. “Ideally, if the property owner was there, they would be cleaning it up on a regular basis.
“This is the neighbourhood or some transients who are coming and dumping some stuff on the property.
“So we have to be careful that we’re also working with the property owner in order to make sure the property is cleaned up, but it’s difficult when it’s not their fault.”
On Tuesday afternoon, mattresses, tires, dog food packaging, and syringes could be seen in the pile.
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Scott said 11 complaints have been issued to the property since 2015, including about five nuisance complaints and others related to an unlicensed pet or dog running at large.
Scott said these types of nuisance complaints are fairly common in Edmonton.
“There are a lot worst that we deal with on a regular basis.
“A lot of them are more focused on inside the property line where it’s hoarding issues.”