成人X站

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle has an illegal dumping problem with few solutions

Oct 4, 2018, 7:23 AM | Updated: 10:18 am

illegal dumping...

(Heather Bosch, 成人X站 Radio)

(Heather Bosch, 成人X站 Radio)

In a South Seattle neighborhood, Seattle Public Utility contract worker Phil Januto surveys the garbage that has been illegally dumped along a street.

“This is pretty typical: furniture, mattresses, box springs,” Januto said, shaking his head as he spots a large blue box with a peaked wooden roof.

RELATED: Seattleites, businesses leaving trash at homeless camps

“First time, actually, for a dog house,” he said. “That’s a new one.”

Idris Beauregard, the Seattle Public Utilities Graffiti & Illegal Dumping Program manager, says there’s more to clean up than ever.

“This past year, in 2017, we received a little over 17,000 illegal dumping complaints. That’s a 193 percent increase,” Beauregard said.

Within that increase, there’s a dangerous trend.

“Lots of fecal matter, lot of used condoms, tons of needles … tons of urine in bottles, as well,” said Oliver Campos, who says that the cleanup crews take hazmat training.

At least some of the garbage appears to be evidence of the homeless crisis in the city, but they’re not the only ones.

“You can kind of tell what’s coming out of a homeless encampment, but a lot of these areas, it’s just coming out of the houses,” Campos said, pointing out some abandoned furniture.

In truth, it’s tough to confirm where any of the garbage is coming from. Illegal dumpers face fines from $150-500. But they’re rarely caught.

“Often times, we need some type of actual footage of the person that’s committing the crime of illegally dumping — license plates, pictures, some video,”聽Beauregard said.

He says that gives police more clues for tracking down the culprits. Seattle Public Utilities says it is working with Seattle police to develop better strategies for busting illegal dumpers, but there are no specific plans.

Meanwhile, SPU budgeted $670,000 to clean up illegally dumped garbage in 2018.

for more information about how to report illegal dumping in Seattle.

 

MyNorthwest News

drunk driver parkland...

Frank Lenzi

WSP working to reduce firearms forensics backlog

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is taking steps to reduce a growing backlog in firearms forensic analysis by expanding lab capacity and training new forensic scientists, officials said.

10 hours ago

One Seattle city council amendments...

Jason Sutich

Seattle council members propose more than 100 changes to Harrell’s ‘One Seattle’ plan

Seattle City Council members have proposed more than 100 amendments on Monday to Mayor Bruce Harrell's One Seattle plan, according to The Seattle Times.

11 hours ago

Panda Express...

MyNorthwest Staff

Washington locations among first to debut new Panda Express menu item

Locations in Washington are among the first to debut a new Panda Express menu item.

11 hours ago

Attempted burglary Pierce County...

Frank Lenzi

Close call for Lake Tapps woman

A Lake Tapps woman had a close call when she spotted an unfamiliar car in her driveway, the Pierce County Sheriff鈥檚 Office said.

12 hours ago

I-5 crash...

MyNorthwest Staff

Crash on I-5 south by I-90 cleared

A crash was blocking lanes on I-5 south.

12 hours ago

seattle shooting...

James Lynch

Man charged for allegedly shooting man in wheelchair at Seattle pier

A suspect is in custody after a man was shot in downtown Seattle on Thursday.

12 hours ago

Seattle has an illegal dumping problem with few solutions