Parks Canada has recorded nearly 1,500 incidents of illegal dumping in Rouge National Urban Park since 2020.

 Markham Economist Sun

Monday, October 21, 2024

With illegal dumping continuing to rise within Rouge National Urban Park in Markham, the need to protect this cherished natural space has become more urgent than ever.

According to Parks Canada, nearly 1,500 incidents of illegal dumping have been reported in the park since 2020, with numbers hitting record highs over the past year. The numbers grew from 92 incidents recorded in 2020, to 394 in 2021, 333 in 2022 and 406 in 2023.

Spanning almost 80 square kilometres, Rouge Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including species at risk. As Canada’s first national urban park, it serves as a vital green space for millions of residents and visitors in the Greater Toronto Area.

“At this time last year, we saw peak levels of illegal dumping, with an average of two dumpsites appearing every day, a trend that continued into the fall,” said Sarah Simpson, acting external relations manager for the park.
Polluters have left behind household trash, furniture, landscaping debris and even hazardous industrial waste such as used tires, scrap metal and cans of paint. These actions are severely damaging the park’s sensitive ecosystems and putting wildlife at risk, Simpson explained.

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