WATERLOO REGION — Wilmot Township residents are noticing more illegal dumping on their roads since the region's nearby waste and recycling facility closed to the public last month.

Resident Lenny Greyerbiehl sees garbage dumped along the township's roads often, but he says it has increased since the waste management site temporarily closed.

He noticed a row of yard waste bags left on the side of Wilby Road. "That's been there for a week already at least. It's the spot where you can see cars coming or lights at night," he says.

"It's going to get a lot worse," Greyerbiehl says. He has seen this behaviour before. "When they banned tires, they were all over the place."

Wilmot resident Trevor Riengeutte says he's seen garbage dumped on Carmel Koch Road, Berlett's Road and Conservation Drive.

"The landfill has been closed to the public, and in less than a week you can see lots of bagged garbage and other stuff tossed on the side of the road."

He took pictures of four different illegal garbage dumping sites, "that's just on my drive to Baden Timmy's" he says.

The fine for illegal dumping in Waterloo Region ranges from a minimum of $300 to a maximum of $5000. Residents can file complaints with their city or township's bylaw office or email the region at RLicensingandRegulatory@regionofwaterloo.ca

While the region's waste facilities are closed to the public, the region has posted a list of local companies with waste drop off options for commercial businesses and residents.

The region has also cancelled the usual spring pick up of bulky items until further notice, though yard waste collection will begin April 13, following the region's yard waste calendar.

Leah Gerber's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report on stories about the Grand River Watershed.