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AUGUSTA, Ga. () – Augusta is grappling with a mounting issue of illegal dumping, particularly in residential areas such as Harrisburg.
“People are constantly driving by and tossing their trash into Harrisburg,” explained Mary Allen, highlighting the frequent disregard for the neighborhood.
This ongoing problem has drawn the attention and concern of local commissioners.
The Marshal’s Office, tasked with tackling illegal dumping, reports an increasing caseload.
“The situation seems to be deteriorating,” noted Marshal Ramone Lamkin. “We urge residents to contact us when they spot such activities. It’s crucial to prevent both locals and outsiders from turning our communities into dumping grounds.”
As commissioners get more complains, the administrators office is pushing the clean community initiative, a sort of a strike team of those in enforcement to take on illegal dumping.
“It is kind of like our strike team that focuses on certain areas – the areas that are being effected. The most we will have is for people to go to those respective areas,” said City Administrator Tameka Allen.
Augusta feels it’s time to get serious on illegal dumping. The Marshal says there will be stronger fines in order to send a message would help, and also the use of technology to offset staffing shortages.
“I would definitely invest in more technology: more cameras and stuff because you can get more bang for your buck with that. So we don’t have to have as many man hours to do that. We can have people watching the cameras,” said Lamkin.
Residents just want it gone.
“I think what the city needs to do is clean it up,” said Mary Allen.
But the city wants to cite those piling it up.