A persistent fire at a southeast Calgary waste facility is prompting Alberta to overhaul how it regulates landfill operations across the province, raising fresh questions about compliance and public safety.
The blaze at ECCO Recycling and Energy Corp.'s Shepard industrial site ignited on September 6 and continues to smoulder more than a week later. Smoke continues drifting across nearby communities, triggering health advisories from the City of Calgary and mounting concern among residents and local politicians about air quality and potential health impacts.
The prolonged fire has exposed significant gaps in Alberta's regulatory framework. Alberta Environment and Protected Areas confirmed it is now reviewing the province's waste-storage regulations "to determine where stronger regulatory oversight may be warranted" in light of compliance concerns at the facility.
What's missing from current rules
Under Alberta's existing framework, waste storage sites operating under a Storage Site Notification face virtually no restrictions. There are no limits on the size or height of storage piles, and operators are not required to submit annual reports—creating blind spots that allowed the situation at ECCO to develop.
"Alberta is considering establishing size and height limits, introducing annual reporting requirements and taking other actions to strengthen oversight," said a statement from Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter's office.
The provincial government is also working alongside the City of Calgary to investigate whether prohibited materials were stored at either the landfill or adjacent sites in violation of ECCO's provincial authorizations.
Community concerns mount
For residents living near the Shepard industrial area, the fire has raised alarm bells about what goes on behind the gates of waste facilities operating with minimal provincial scrutiny. The incident has sparked broader conversations about industrial oversight in Calgary, with community members taking to forums like Calgary Forums to share concerns and demand answers.
The fire serves as a stark reminder that effective regulation requires transparency, accountability, and enforcement—not just permission slips. As Alberta reviews its waste-storage rules, the question remains: how many other facilities are operating under similarly loose standards?
This article is based on reporting by the Calgary Herald.