Surrey mayor brings illegal dumping motion to council Monday with new fines and business bans
Mayor Doug McCallum says he will put a motion before Surrey council November 9 to raise the minimum fine for illegal dumping from $1,000 to $10,000 and strip business licences for 10 years for companies caught dumping.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on vancouversun.com.
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum says he will put a motion before Surrey council on Monday, November 9 to raise the minimum fine for illegal dumping from $1,000 to $10,000, and to revoke business licences for 10 years for companies caught dumping in the city, the Vancouver Sun reported on November 5.
At the inaugural council meeting on November 2, McCallum said he would introduce the motion on November 9. Global News reported on November 7 that McCallum described his plan as a crackdown on illegal dumping. "We will bring in zero tolerance for illegal dumping, with real penalties for the people who treat our neighbourhoods like a landfill," McCallum said, as quoted by the Vancouver Sun.
What the motion would change
Under current City rules, individuals are fined $1,000 for each incident of illegal dumping. The City can impose fines up to $10,000 for the most serious cases, according to the Vancouver Sun. McCallum wants the minimum to start at $10,000, making the current maximum the new floor.
He also proposes that businesses lose their licences to operate in Surrey for 10 years if they are connected to illegal dumping. The Vancouver Sun reported that the city has seen a reduction in illegal dumping cases in recent years, but McCallum is pushing for heavier penalties.
The problem McCallum describes
The Vancouver Sun documented several examples of illegal dumping in Surrey. A semi-rural road near Mud Bay Park in South Surrey, which leads to a popular walking area, has become a spot for discarded items. The Sun found a mattress and a wooden desk among the items left there. In Newton, ripped or stained mattresses appear curbside in some residential neighbourhoods. A small area behind businesses in Whalley has collected renovation waste, old appliances and a broken television, the Sun reported.
The campaign promise behind it
This motion matches a commitment McCallum made during the 2026 campaign. His promise tracker at /bc/surrey-2026/tracker records a pledge for a first-day motion on tougher illegal dumping penalties, including a $10,000 fine and a 10-year business licence ban for companies caught dumping. The campaign's September 8, 2026 release also said the City would put cameras at known dumping sites and use drones to find those responsible.
The motion goes before council on November 9. If it passes, the higher fines and licence penalties would apply to future illegal dumping incidents in Surrey.
Questions this story answers
What is Mayor McCallum proposing on illegal dumping?
Mayor Doug McCallum says he will bring a motion before Surrey council on November 9 to raise the minimum fine for illegal dumping from $1,000 to $10,000, according to the Vancouver Sun. He also proposes to strip businesses of their licences to operate for 10 years if they are connected to illegal dumping. Currently individuals can be fined up to $10,000 for the most serious incidents, but McCallum wants $10,000 to be the starting fine.
What does McCallum say illegal dumping looks like in Surrey?
The Vancouver Sun described a semi-rural road near Mud Bay Park in South Surrey that has become a destination for discarded items, with a mattress and a wooden desk among the items found. In Newton, ripped mattresses appear curbside in some residential neighbourhoods. A small area behind businesses in Whalley has become a dumping spot for renovation waste, old appliances and broken electronics, the Sun reported.
What is Surrey's current fine for illegal dumping?
Currently, individuals are fined $1,000 for each incident of illegal dumping, but can be fined up to $10,000 for the most serious cases, according to the Vancouver Sun. Mayor McCallum wants the fines to start at $10,000.
When will Surrey council vote on the motion?
Surrey council meets Monday, November 9. Mayor McCallum said at the inaugural council meeting on November 2 that he would introduce the motion then, the Vancouver Sun reported. Global News also reported on the motion on November 7.
What did McCallum promise during the campaign on illegal dumping?
During the 2026 campaign, McCallum committed to bringing a first-day motion on illegal dumping. His campaign's September 8 pledge said the City would put cameras at known dumping sites, use drones to find the people responsible, and impose zero-tolerance penalties.
Is this connected to a campaign promise?
Yes. The voche.me promise tracker at /bc/surrey-2026/tracker shows McCallum's commitment for a first-day motion on tougher illegal dumping penalties, including a $10,000 fine and a 10-year business licence ban for companies caught dumping. The motion going to council November 9 matches that pledge.
What else did McCallum say about illegal dumping?
McCallum said in a previous news release, quoted by the Vancouver Sun: 'Surrey is our home, not a landfill. The people who treat this city like a dump are going to find out it is the most expensive mistake they ever made.'
What can Surrey residents do about illegal dumping now?
Surrey residents can report illegal dumping to the City of Surrey. The November 9 council meeting is open to the public. If the motion passes, the new fines and licence penalties would apply to future incidents in Surrey.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
Found an error? Tell the editors with the corrections form. A correction is noted on the story it changes. Read our standards.
