Leave it to scofflaws to turn a grassy area next to a busy on-ramp into a dumping ground for construction and renovation trash.

With an early spring in full, sunny bloom – how glorious it would be, if not for the sickness – the earth is quickly emerging from its winter slumber and sprouting fresh growth everywhere.

But all those new blades of grass and buds on the trees cannot hide the truth in out-of-the-way glades and secluded areas that serve as magnets for people who refuse to do the right thing with their refuse.

A case in point is a grassy area and small grove of trees next to an on-ramp that runs from Albion Road onto Weston Road, just north of Highway 401, which for years has been fouled by illegal dumpers.

Robert Lockie emailed to say he uses the on-ramp from Albion onto Weston on weekday mornings, and “on the right-hand side there is a field that borders the 401.

“All year round, people (if you can call them that) dump huge loads of trash in there. You can tell it was dumped from a large truck as they are large loads. Old plastic furniture, yard waste, trash of all kinds, It’s a blight.”

I went there and found dozens of loads of dirty fill that had obviously been dredge out of construction sites, most of which looked as if it had been there for several years.

Around it were loads of old shingles that had been stripped from roofs, trash from renovation jobs, huge piles of brush that had been gathered elsewhere and dumped there, along with household waste.

It’s clear that dumping of construction fill has been going on for years, and not just by how much growth has sprung up around it. Google Street View images dating back to 2017 show many of the same piles of dirt that are still there.

Late at night, when there’s no traffic or prying eyes, it’s one of many perfect places for dumpers to do their dirty work. But simply extending a guard rail that runs partway along the ramp would cut off their access.

STATUS: We sent an email about the problem to transportation services and mentioned that a bit more railing would keep out dumpers. Here’s the reply: “While city resources are primarily focused on COVID-19 response at this time, transportation services officers were able to investigate the location and observed materials that have been dumped illegally. Staff will continue to monitor the location and make arrangements to have the material removed sometime in the future when there are appropriate resources and equipment available to do so. If a member of the public sees illegal dumping they are asked to call 311 and provide as much information as possible.”

It would be much less costly to install more guard rail than to clean up the mess. But if that’s part of the city’s plan, they didn’t mention it.

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