Residents who live near encampments have expressed concerns that litter and debris accumulate quickly, because there is no regular waste collection at encampment sites. Hazards at encampment sites may include fire accelerants and combustibles, sharps, illicit drugs and paraphernalia, weapons, biohazards, poisonous plants, insects (ticks), trip hazards, and hostile individuals. Regular restoration and cleanup activities by the City of Brampton were implemented to include four large-scale restoration cleanup events that took place along the ECT in winter/spring, 2024.
Litter, unauthorized structures, hazardous items, and debris were removed to restore the area as a healthy and safe public space for all. 34 20-cubic yard bins of garbage and debris and 40 propane cylinders were removed. In late summer 2024, a cleanup around all encampment sites on city owned property yielded litter, debris, and garbage collected into 14 20-cubic yard bins, and the collection of various safety hazards including propane tanks, lawnmowers, and sharps. Staff continue to monitor high risk areas and cleanup sites as required. A list of improvements implemented are as follows. For full report, please click report.
Improvement: Restoration and Cleanup Activities (implemented and ongoing)
Four large-scale restoration cleanup events took place along the ECT in winter/spring, 2024. Litter, unauthorized structures, hazardous items, and debris were removed to restore the area as a healthy and safe public space for all. A total of 34 20-cubic yard bins of garbage and debris and 40 propane cylinders were removed. In late summer 2024, a cleanup around all encampment sites on city-owned property resulted in the collection of litter, debris, and garbage into 14 20-cubic yard bins, along with various safety hazards, including propane tanks, lawnmowers, and sharps. Staff continue to monitor high-risk areas and cleanup sites as required.
Improvement: Streamlining Requests through Service Brampton (implemented and ongoing)
Collaborative work by the Brampton Encampment Response Group identified the need to remove litter, debris, and hazardous items from encampment sites regularly. A new process to streamline litter cleanups and inactive site cleanups solely through Service Brampton has improved response times.
Improvement: Updating Job Hazard Analysis (required)
Parks Maintenance & Forestry is updating its Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) to outline how staff respond to encampment cleanups and debris removal requests. Updates to the JHA include:
- Direction to request a security escort,
- A site inspection checklist upon arrival to look for hazards, and
- An updated protocol for the safe removal and disposal of hazardous waste (chemical, biohazards) to the Region of Peel’s Community Recycling Centres.
Security Services also plans to update its JHA accordingly.
