Alberta plans to increase penalties for illegal dumping and require stronger oversight of higher-risk waste transfer and storage facilities through legislation expected this fall.

The proposed amendments to the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act would establish minimum fines and double the current maximum penalties for individuals and corporations.

An individual convicted of illegal dumping would face a fine ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. The current law provides a maximum fine of $50,000 but does not set a minimum.

Corporations would face fines ranging from $100,000 to $1 million. The current maximum is $500,000.

Courts would also be permitted to impose jail terms on individuals in certain cases. The proposed range is a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of six months.

The changes require approval by the legislature and are not yet in force.

The province says illegally dumped garbage, construction debris and other waste has created costs for municipalities, farmers, private landowners and taxpayers. Waste left along roads, on farmland or on public land can also affect water, wildlife and public safety.

The legislation would also change oversight of some waste transfer and storage facilities.

Facilities handling larger volumes of waste or storing it for longer periods would be required to obtain provincial registration and meet additional operating requirements. Lower-risk sites with shorter retention periods, limited inventory and specified waste types could continue under the existing notification process.

The government estimates the registration requirement would apply to about 150 of Alberta’s 684 waste transfer and storage sites.

The proposal does not provide a list of affected facilities. The province says it will continue working with municipalities, agricultural groups, the waste industry and enforcement agencies on compliance, public reporting and public awareness.

Calgary received about 30,000 complaints and nearly 9,000 service requests related to illegal dumping on municipal property in 2025, according to the provincial announcement. The city issued 165 tickets and three fines from those reports.

The provincial figures do not show the total number or clean-up cost of illegal-dumping cases across rural Alberta. Municipalities and landowners can face the expense when the person responsible cannot be identified.

Residents who see dumping or suspicious waste are asked to record the location and provide photographs or video when it is safe to do so.

Environmental concerns can be reported through Alberta’s 24-hour environmental response line at 1-800-222-6514. Dumping on municipal land should also be reported to the municipality, while incidents on public or Crown land can be reported through 310-LAND.

The proposed law would move Alberta from maximum-only penalties to ranges that include mandatory minimum fines.