Business owners in Scarborough are fed up with ongoing illegal dumping issues affecting their stores
Nigansha Puvirajah, who runs a family grocery store, has been dealing with this mess since 1994. She says it’s gotten so bad that they often have to clean it up themselves, only to get hit with fines from the city.
Another owner, Ratna Kiri, who has a clothing shop, mentioned he’s been fined hundreds of dollars for messes he didn’t create. It’s frustrating for everyone involved.
The city claims they’re looking into the issue, with over 30 inspections done at the plaza. They’ve cleaned up the area more than 20 times in the last few years. But with so many different owners and the trash spread out, it’s tough to pin down responsibility.
Kiri believes some landlords aren’t providing dumpsters for their tenants, which leads to more trash being dumped. He thinks some residents just don’t know how to properly dispose of their garbage.
Without security cameras, it’s hard for local officials to catch the culprits. City councillor Parthi Kandavel suggests that the business owners form a group to tackle the problem together.
He’s tried to get this going, but only a few businesses have shown interest. It’s clear that more collaboration is needed to find a solution.
Puvirajah is open to any ideas, as her family’s business is struggling with the trash situation. She worries that the mess is turning away customers, making it hard for their long-standing businesses to thrive.
