Landfill's expansion in southeast Calgary irks neighbours

A landfill in southeast Calgary, near Quarry Park, has expanded without the proper permits, and some nearby homeowners and businesses aren't happy about it. 

The Ecco Waste landfill stretches over 46 hectares east of 24th Street S.E. between 107th Avenue and Quarry Park Boulevard. It takes construction debris, such as concrete rubble, asphalt shingles, drywall, scrap metal, glass and wood.  

Andy Orr, a retired city planner, has a view of the operation from his back deck in Riverbend, a neighbourhood north of the landfill. 

He says he didn't used to have a problem with the landfill, but lately that's changed.

"It's become somewhat unsightly," he said. Orr isn't the only one with concerns. 

Nearby business owners complain about blowing garbage, muddy run-off and dust.

A petition is now circulating in the neighbourhood calling on the city to order Ecco Waste to suspend its activities until it gets its permits in order. 

"You're storing waste on this site. If you're doing that, you need to take proper measures to ensure that waste is properly secure on the site, that you have dust control measures and you also have run-off control measures, which are going to be challenging as you go higher with your stockpiling," said Orr. 

About two years ago, a city inspector found the company was dumping waste where it shouldn't have been — in a southeast section of the landfill it didn't have the necessary permits for. 

Expansion plans

For months, Ecco Waste has been in the process of trying to get those permits approved.

In the meantime, the City of Calgary is allowing it to keep stockpiling in the area. 

"We're aware that the activity is going on and I don't think there is a risk to allowing that to continue," said Gordon York, chief development inspector. 

"Putting a pause, if you will, or a stop-work order on the site, in my opinion, is not the appropriate avenue to go at this time," he said, describing Ecco Waste as a good corporate citizen.

"We're not here to shut businesses down within the City of Calgary. We're looking at other ways in the development permit process," he said.

York says the city will take the concerns of the landfill's neighbours into consideration as it decides whether to allow the landfill to expand.

Ecco Waste did not respond to numerous interview requests from CBC News. 

A spokesperson from Alberta Environment, which also regulates landfills, said the Ecco Waste site has no outstanding compliance issues. 

Records show the most recent provincial audit was done in December 2014. 

"It is up to the proponent to ensure that they have all the required permits and approvals from the municipality and province prior to any operations or expansions," said Environment ministry spokesperson Lisa Glover in an emailed statement.

"The city and the province's regulatory processes are independent of each other and not subject to the approval of one another."

According to the annual report the company filed with the provincial government last year, 31 per cent of the landfill's waste stream was diverted and recycled.