Fort Worth

Fort Worth Cracks Down on Illegal Dumping

Fort Worth police caught a group of people illegally dumping around the city, so they made them clean up the mess.

Thursday, police said they found pieces of mail scattered throughout a pile of junk left off Long Avenue. They went to the address listed on the documents and informed the residents they would have to come back out and retrieve their belongings.

“It's always good when you can get them to clean it up,” said Brandon Bennett, the director of code enforcement for Fort Worth.

Compared to 10 years ago, Bennett said the city’s illegal dumping has dramatically decreased. However, they still pay approximately $300,000 every year to clean up sites they find.

“We have crews, you know, large trucks, with big grappling hooks on them that spend 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week picking up illegally dumped material,” said Bennett. “It's not just an impact on the taxpayers and what they pay the city. But it's also an impact on the economy. It's an impact on people's livability.”

Fort Worth offers 3 drop-off locations for residents to bring trash, brush and recyclables. To use one, you only need a current city water bill or driver’s license to prove use of the city’s sanitation services.

“We come just once a month to drop off,” said resident, John Munoz.

On Saturday afternoon, a line of cars nearly stretched around the corner of the drop-off site on Brennan Avenue. During the weekends, each one is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We’re bringing in hay and used brick. It’s the right thing to do,” said Clint Cooper, who uses the site regularly.

NBC5 tried to speak with the men police caught dumping Thursday, however, they would not comment.

“I don’t want to incriminate myself,” one of the men told NBC5.

According to Bennett, code enforcement is working closely with the district attorney’s office to find and prosecute those involved in cases of illegal dumping. As a result, he believes fewer people now try to get away with it.

“They're trashing everybody's neighborhood up for their own vested interest,” said Bennett. “We catch these people, and we prosecute to the fullest extent.”

For more information on Fort Worth’s drop off sites, click here: http://fortworthtexas.gov/

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