Illegal dumping continues to frustrate residents in northeast Calgary, with discarded furniture, construction debris and household waste appearing in ditches, vacant lots and back alleys.

Nick King, a Calgary furniture seller who makes social media reels about the issue, said he began documenting illegal dumping in April after repeatedly encountering piles of waste while making deliveries.

Most of the dumping he has seen is concentrated between 80 Avenue NE and 88 Avenue NE, from 52 Street NE to Métis Trail, he said, with additional pockets in Martindale and along Cornerstone Drive NE.

King said the dumping can appear every few days in some locations.

His videos have received about 150,000 views, bringing more attention to an issue he said residents have been dealing with for some time.

“Since I started making these reels regarding the illegal dumping, I’ve noticed the areas that I’ve documented have been cleaned up by both residents in these communities and the City of Calgary,” King said.

The cleanup, however, does not necessarily address what he sees as the underlying problem.

King said residents have told him they want stronger measures, including cameras, higher fines and more enforcement to deter people from using neighbourhoods as dumping grounds.

He said much of the waste appears to come from people outside the immediate neighbourhood, including residents of nearby communities and contractors.

The most common items he has seen include old mattresses, couches, drywall, lumber scraps, paint, insulation and other construction waste.

The City says illegal dumping is a growing concern across Calgary, particularly around vacant land, developing neighbourhoods and open spaces that can be harder to monitor.

It says the waste can create safety hazards, attract pests, affect the environment and wildlife and create cleanup costs.

The City is using a mix of public education, reporting, enforcement and cleanup to address the issue.

In 2026, it launched radio and social media advertising, conducted media outreach and installed signage in known problem areas as part of a public awareness campaign encouraging residents to use legal disposal options and report illegal dumping through 311.

For Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal, the issue has required a combination of those approaches.

City says reporting is key to enforcement

Dhaliwal said the ward has previously worked with City administration to increase enforcement and awareness in areas affected by illegal dumping.

That has included installing cameras and signs, increasing bylaw enforcement and educating residents about illegal dumping and free community cleanup programs.

While he said the situation has improved in some areas, illegal dumping has not stopped completely.

“Education and awareness does take time to trickle down,” Dhaliwal said.

He added that some problem areas have seen a decrease in dumping, while others have not experienced a significant reduction.

The City says enforcement can include Peace Officers and cameras, but detailed reports through 311 are also important in helping identify offenders and build cases.

That makes reporting a critical link between what residents see on the ground and what the City can act on.

For most cases involving waste left on private property without permission, the City recommends reporting the incident through 311 and providing as much information as possible, including photographs, witness information, licence plates and surveillance footage.

The complaint can then be assigned to a peace officer for follow-up.

The City said strong evidence, such as vehicle information, video footage or identifying documents found in dumped material, can support enforcement and potential cost recovery.

Anyone caught illegally dumping waste can face fines of up to $10,000 and may also be ordered to clean up the material they dumped.

Dhaliwal said, however, that reporting levels in Ward 5 and northeast Calgary remain a concern.

“When we look at data, unfortunately, we are not seeing much reporting from Ward 5 or the northeast on illegal dumping,” he said.

He described illegal dumping reports as “very minimal” compared with other areas.

Dhaliwal said that without reports, it becomes more difficult to assess the scope of the problem and question administration about whether current measures are working.

Garbage clean up doesn’t stop the problem: King

For King, social media has become his way of bringing attention to dumping sites.

He said he has not personally reported any of the incidents he has documented through 311, instead posting videos that have prompted residents, community leaders, city officials and journalists to contact him about specific locations.

He believes more public education could help change attitudes around illegal dumping, alongside enforcement and cleanup.

“Education and enforcement are key,” King said.

“Clean up is great, but it doesn’t stop the problem.”

The City said residents should contact Calgary Police Service through its non-emergency line if dumping is actively occurring and the offender remains on the property. Residents should call 911 if there is an immediate safety concern, particularly if trespassing or other criminal behaviour is involved.

The City does not yet have year-over-year statistics available to determine whether illegal dumping has increased or decreased across Calgary overall, but said it continues to respond through education, enforcement, reporting initiatives and cleanup efforts.