Construction waste dumped illegally, says Winnipegger

A resident of Winnipeg's core area says at least half of the garbage in his back lane has been dumped there illegally by construction companies and house-flippers.

Leon Wieler said a surveillance camera he set up behind his Sherbrook Street home three weeks ago has recorded images of trucks dumping construction materials, sinks, toilets and two-by-fours in dumpsters along his back lane.

"We found that about half, or even more than half, [of] the garbage going into those dumpsters came from half-tons driving past, illegally dumping," Wieler told CBC News.

Some of the trucks had the names of contractors on them, said Wieler, who suspects the other vehicles belong to house-flippers who he believes were too lazy to transport their construction waste to the Brady Road landfill.

"Well, I was mad. I've been cleaning up the alley and sweeping it because all these illegal dumpers aren't very careful with what they put in the dumpster," he said.

"We do this time and time again and it never gets any better, never."

Wieler said he has notified the City of Winnipeg, passing on licence plate numbers and company names. The two worst offenders have since stopped dumping behind his home, he added.

Wieler said he wants to see an education campaign about illegal garbage dumping, as well as stiff fines for offenders.