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By Josh Hall

Alberta to ramp up fines and penalties for illegal dumping

Oct 1, 2026 | 4:07 PM

Increased penalties for illegal dumping are coming this fall, according to the Government of Alberta.

The amendments to the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act will also mean increased oversight of large waste facilities.

Penalties are proposed to range from $10,000 to $100,000 for individuals, and from $100,000 to $1,000,000 for corporations.

“These proposed changes would strengthen enforcement, increase penalties and help ensure those who dump waste illegally face meaningful consequences for their actions,” says Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services.

“By giving officers stronger tools to investigate and enforce the law, we are sending a clear message that illegal dumping will not be tolerated in Alberta.”

The amended legislation would also introduce jail terms for individuals, with a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of six months.

In 2025, the City of Calgary received about 30,000 complaints and almost 9,000 service requests related to illegal dumping on municipal property. From that, the city issued 165 tickets and three fines, according to the province.

If Albertans see illegal dumping or discover suspicious waste, they can report it to the 24-hour environmental response line (1-800-222-6514), or to their local municipality.

by Josh Hall