Chemung County sees an increase in illegal dumping
If that pothole on your road hasn't been fixed yet, it might be because highway crews are too busy cleaning up after illegal dumpers.
County road workers are cleaning up refuse from highway rights-of-way on a regular basis — almost weekly in some locations — and town highway officials report the same problem, said Chemung County Public Works Commissioner Andy Avery.
It's an issue that seems to be worse than ever this year, Avery said, and it's costing his department manpower and resources that should be spent on maintaining roads and bridges.
"Everyone sees a spike in dumping. It gets expensive for us to to provide the manpower to clean it up and it's just wrong, to top it all off," he said. "People are trying to find any way to make a dollar. I'm no sociologist, but if you want to make money, you don't want to pay to get rid of stuff. I'm wondering if it isn't someone who is in the hauling business.
"If you pay someone to haul stuff from your home, part of the agreement should be proof that they properly disposed of it," Avery said. "Landfills provide receipts so it's easy to prove."
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There are several sites on Elmira's Southside that county and city crews have gone back to time and again in recent months, Avery said.
It's often difficult to prove illegal dumping unless the perpetrator is caught in the act, he said.
Residents can help by being vigilant and calling 911 if they see someone illegally dumping items along the road. People should contact authorities rather than approach the subjects, which could be risky, Avery said.
If people come across dumped items after the fact, they can call the county Public Works Department 24 hours a day at 607-737-5750. County crews will clean up any items left in a county highway right-of-way.
It isn't just county road crews that have been forced to act as garbage collectors.
Many towns in the county are running into the same problem, and are frustrated by it.
"We're getting anything from tires to computer desks to garbage. One day we had 85 tires, all in one location," said Town of Elmira Highway Superintendent Matt Mustico. "I think it's getting worse. I don't know if they raised the dumping fees at the landfill. People just don't want to pay."
Mustico agreed with Avery that many times, the illegal dumping is committed by unscrupulous haulers who are paid to take away other people's trash.
"A lot of times, we'll find names (in the garbage). Then they will say 'We paid someone to haul it out,'" Mustico said. "It's just frustrating when you find that stuff. We have to pick stuff up and we have to get rid of it. If you see it, call us and we'll pick it up. We will call law enforcement. We definitely want to see (illegal dumpers) prosecuted."
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