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Trash Busters Issues First Rewards
The city’s Trash Busters program to fight illegal dumping made its first rewards this month. This week, a reward of $185 was given to a caller who provided information that led to the arrests of two individuals for separate incidents of illegally dumping in the 1500 block of Gholson Street.
A reward of $75 was disbursed Jan. 6 to another caller whose information identified the person responsible for illegal dumping in the 1700 block of Crampton Street.
Since its start on Sept. 1, the Trash Busters hotline (734-1268) has received more than 50 calls. Some callers did not provide enough information and other calls could not be verified. Investigations of several other tips are pending.
Like the successful CrimeStoppers program, Trash Busters offers rewards for confidential tips that lead to the arrest of an illegal dumper. Callers to the Trash Busters hotline do not have to give their name and are assigned a case number through which they can receive a reward of up to $250 if their information leads to the arrest or identification of illegal dumpers.
Illegal dumps are piles of trash, old appliances, old furniture, construction debris and other refuse (not including household garbage) left by roadsides, on vacant lots and in ravines. Besides being unsightly, illegal dumps are breeding grounds for disease-carrying rodents and insects, said Ritchie Brooks, the city’s director of housing and neighborhood services. Illegal dumps are considered a neighborhood problem and fall under Brooks’ department.
“We are pleased to make these first Trash Busters rewards and we hope there will be more to come,” Brooks said. “Illegal dumps are a community problem, and it will take community involvement to successfully fight them.”
For more information call the Housing/Neighborhood Services Department at 734-1272. More Trash Busters information.
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