Residents and officials in Portage la Prairie are again raising alarms over misuse of the city’s yard waste compost site, with prohibited items like plastic waste, household garbage, and even a used vape littering the area. This marks a recurring issue first highlighted by PortageOnline in July 2019, as community members urge better compliance with site rules to protect the facility’s purpose.
Persistent problem resurfaces
The compost site, designed exclusively for leaves and grass trimmings, features clear signage instructing users to empty yard waste from plastic bags into the site, with designated barrels under the sign for people to deposit their emptied bags. Despite this, recent visits revealed plastic buckets filled with stagnant water, a broken wooden barrel, a children’s drink pouch, cigarette packaging, and dozens of plastic bags left intact with waste inside; all found after only a brief look around the area. A concerned resident alerted PortageOnline to the “disgusting” state of the site, echoing frustrations from nearly six years prior.
Superintendent of Public Works Paul Ziesman acknowledges the challenge but notes proactive measures are underway.
“When we go and pick up our yard waste from the public streets, we bring it back to that composting site,” he says. “We will be going through all of those bags, opening them up, removing a lot of that garbage because that all needs to be prepped for our composting screener. The actual cleanup of that area will be taking place next week.”
Residents voice frustration
Local resident Joel Harder, who also described the site as “kind of disgusting,” criticizes the lack of accountability.
“People just don’t care,” he says. “I don’t know if they need to put cameras out here or what they need to do just to make sure people are following the rules.”
Longtime resident Les Knott suggests part of the issue may be nighttime dumping.
“You’re seeing a mess. People are coming in here, dumping garbage that doesn’t belong,” he states. “Throw your garbage in the garbage. Compost is for grass and leaves. There’s lots of times we come in here and [find] household garbage bags just thrown all over the place. I think it’s happening at night when no one’s on.”
Calls for community responsibility
Ziesman encourages residents to report violations directly to Public Works.
“If citizens notice those things, please give us a shout so we can do our best to resolve it,” he says.
The city’s annual yard waste pickup program begins next week, with crews tasked with sorting non-compliant materials.
Knott emphasizes collective accountability, asking, “How do you stop it? It’s up to people to do the right thing.”
As cleanup efforts ramp up, officials hope renewed public awareness will curb repeat offenses and preserve the site’s intended role in sustainable waste management.