Community Chest

Ranchmen’s Club Waste Woes: A Shared Alley Dilemma

Hold onto your hats, Beltline residents – there's a sticky situation brewing right in our shared urban backyard. The historic Ranchmen’s Club at 710 13th Ave SW, a cornerstone of Calgary’s social scene since 1891, is facing a modern problem: their waste management is, frankly, a mess.

Neighbors are fuming over consistently open and overflowing dumpsters behind the club. While most businesses and residences in the dense Beltline community diligently secure their trash to deter scavenging and maintain tidiness, the Ranchmen’s Club appears to be an outlier. What's even more concerning is a leaking cooking oil container, openly spilling its contents directly into a city manhole.

This isn't just an aesthetic issue. Such spills pose a significant environmental risk to Calgary's storm drain system, which is designed to carry rainwater, not cooking grease. Furthermore, open garbage is a magnet for pests, a perennial challenge in urban living, and undermines the collective effort Calgarians make to keep our city clean. The City of Calgary has robust bylaws in place, requiring commercial establishments to separate food and yard waste from general garbage for composting or diversion, effective since November 1, 2017. Businesses are also required to provide adequate containers and ensure proper disposal.

Frustrated residents have tried the official route, contacting 311 multiple times, but report little to no change. When shared urban spaces become neglected, it impacts everyone. If you’ve witnessed the unsightly situation, consider making your voice heard. A direct Google review for the club might just be the push needed to tidy up this corner of our vibrant city.

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NDP Stands Tall in Legislature Marathon

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