A Calgary farmer says illegal dumping on his land has become a weekly, if not daily, problem, leaving him frustrated with what he calls a lack of response.

For Mitchell Konshuk, finding a U-Haul parked on his farm property wasn’t unusual enough to immediately raise an alarm.

But when he and a family member got closer, they saw two people shovelling hundreds of pounds of garbage out of the truck onto the land.

Konshuk said they told the individuals to stop and put the garbage back in the truck. The pair briefly complied, but when Konshuk and his family member turned away to call police from a safe distance, he said the individuals dumped the garbage again and drove away.

Konshuk said he captured photos and video, including the vehicle’s licence plate, and provided the information to police.

He said the incident was especially concerning at the time because Parker, a young Calgary boy whose disappearance had drawn widespread attention, was still missing.

Konshuk said he wanted police to investigate the garbage pile in case it contained information that could help locate the boy.

“They were not too interested in any of it,” Konshuk said.

The garbage left behind included bicycle tires, kitchen appliances, household garbage, old food and items such as paintball guns and homemade knives, he said.

But for Konshuk, the incident was not an isolated occurrence.

He said his family began farming the land about five years ago and quickly noticed people using roads on the property as dumping grounds.

In the past two to three years, he said the problem has become increasingly frequent, happening “weekly, if not daily.”

Fines can be up to $1,000 for illegal dumping: City

Konshuk’s farm is within Calgary city limits, near the city’s northern edge. The land where the most recent dumping incident occurred is across Highway 2 from CrossIron Mills, southwest of Balzac and north of Calgary.

For Konshuk, the dumping has become more than an inconvenience. He said he has had to deal with everything from furniture and appliances to tires, mattresses and burnt-out vehicles.

The City of Calgary’s statement says its EMCS – Community Safety team investigates illegal dumping complaints within Calgary.

Calgarians who witness illegal dumping are encouraged to call 311. The City said providing a licence plate, when possible, can help investigators track down those responsible. Information about the people involved, the time and what happened can also help.

The City advises residents not to confront people who are dumping but to gather as much information as safely possible.

Illegal dumping can result in fines under Calgary’s Waste Bylaw. The City provided fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 depending on the offence.

A litter offence can result in a $500 fine, while litter from a vehicle can result in a $750 fine. Burning litter can result in a $1,000 fine.

Konshuk said he contacted the City after discovering the garbage on his property and was told it was his responsibility to clean it up. He said police also did not provide the response he had hoped for.

For now, the garbage remains on his property.

Konshuk said he has not had time to clean it up, with the farm entering its busy season preparing for harvest and haying.

He estimates cleaning up the pile himself could cost a few hundred dollars.

He is also worried about the potential damage to farm equipment. If grass grows over the garbage and machinery runs over it, Konshuk said equipment could be damaged by items hidden underneath.

He said farmers also are not equipped to deal with some of the material dumped on their land.

“We’re not a dump, so take it to the dump,” he said.

The frustration goes beyond the cost and inconvenience, Konshuk said.

Farmers work to care for the land that produces food, he said, making it particularly disheartening to see people treat agricultural property as a place to dispose of unwanted garbage.

“We are not your dump,” Konshuk said.

“We do not come and dump our garbage on your front lawn because that’s not right. It’s disrespectful, it’s illegal, so don’t come dump your garbage on our land.”