Litter and Illegal Dumping

Litter and illegal dumping affect public safety, environmental health and neighbourhood cleanliness. The City of Belleville works to prevent and address these issues through regular maintenance, enforcement and community partnerships.

Report an Issue

Use the appropriate reporting option so the issue can be addressed quickly.

• Private Property – Report excessive litter or illegal dumping through the By-law Enforcement Portal.
• Public Property (Parks, Roadsides, Trails, Ditches) – Report litter or illegal dumping using the Litter Hotspots and Illegal Dumping Form.
• Dumping in Progress – If you witness someone actively dumping waste, contact Belleville Police Service.

What is Litter?

Litter is garbage that is improperly discarded in public spaces. Common examples include:

• Fast food packaging
• Coffee cups
• Bottles and cans
• Cigarette butts

City staff routinely collect litter from public spaces and maintain outdoor waste receptacles. Residents are responsible for disposing of waste properly and using available waste diversion programs.

What is Illegal Dumping?

Illegal dumping is the disposal of garbage or materials:

• In public spaces such as parks, roadsides or ditches
• On private property without the permission of the owner or occupant

Illegal dumping is prohibited under the City’s Land Maintenance By-law.

Penalties and Enforcement

The City’s Land Maintenance By-law prohibits throwing, dumping, placing or depositing debris on public or private property without permission. Individuals found guilty of an offence may be subject to a $200 fine.

Preventing Accidental Litter

Not all litter is intentional. Wind and storms can cause materials to blow out of recycling boxes and garbage containers. You can help prevent accidental litter by:

• Placing Blue Boxes at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day, especially during windy conditions
• Putting heavier items on top of lighter materials
• Crushing bottles and cans
• Stacking Blue Boxes to add weight
• Securing loads when transporting waste in trucks or trailers

Community Clean-Ups

Each spring, the Quinte Trash Bash brings communities together to clean up litter from public spaces. Residents or groups interested in organizing a clean-up at other times of the year can arrange for free supplies and disposal of collected litter. More information on the Quinte Trash Bash and hosting a community clean-up event can be found on our Community Clean-Ups webpage.

Frequently Asked Questions