Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services holds illegal dumping seminar
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee city leaders are spreading awareness about illegal dumping.
The issue has been consistent, and city leaders say it can get worse in the spring and summer, with move-outs and evictions.
Wednesday afternoon, a large pile of furniture and garbage sat in an alleyway between N. 29th and N. 30th street in Washington Park.
It's not an uncommon sight in several Milwaukee neighborhoods, and the city wants residents to stay vigilant.
"Furniture dumping is common, construction goods are common, piles of tires are common," said Adrian Spencer, Director of Community Engagement with United Methodist Children's Services.
UMCS partners with the city to respond to illegal dumping in the Washington Park neighborhood.
"We focus on a section of the neighborhood each week, so basically we rotate through a month's time," Spencer said.
She finds new sites every week, and sometimes spots the perpetrators.
"We actually drove up while someone was unloading a U-Haul in an alley," Spencer said.
Spencer joined Milwaukee's Department of Neighborhood Services on Wednesday for a seminar about illegal dumping.
The city is relying on camera footage and community help to catch illegal dumpers.
They're asking residents to report any dumping through their website or the Milwaukee mobile action app.
If a report leads to a conviction, the reporter could receive a reward.
"When they think that a space is unattended or nobody cares or nobody's reporting it, then they continue to return there," Spencer said.
It typically takes the city two to four weeks to clear a dumping site after a report.
"Sometimes their delay's a little longer than I like, but they get to it," said Milwaukee resident, Sonny Perry.
Perry has reported dumping in her neighborhood several times.
"This most recent one that really had me over the edge, is they just dumped it flat out into the middle of the alleyway," Perry said.
She hopes to see more of her neighbors take the responsibility to report dumping.
"Just more awareness. People being invested. Even if you're not the property owner, you still have to live there," Perry said.
If you see illegal dumping in progress, the city says not to confront or chase the person.
Instead, make sure to take note of the vehicle description, item and time and place.