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Illegal dumping an ongoing problem in county
  
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By: NORMA MARTINEZ, Managing Editor
Illegal dumping is an ongoing problem in Aransas County, with a most recent incident cleaned up by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) local crews.
Last week, TxDOT Maintenance Section Supervisor Rudy Rivera discovered a large amount of debris had been dumped on the frontage road between FM 2165 and FM 1069.
He said it took two dump trucks to pick up all the trash, noting it was probably dropped sometime during the night hours.
Several weeks ago, an Aransas County resident who lives on Wishert Road, discovered several items of trash and debris had been dropped along Airport Road near Wishert.
The debris included a large box full of household trash and several boards.
The resident reported she and her mother also walk in the early mornings, and several times they have foiled people’s attempts to dump trash along that road.
Environmental Health Inspector James Jackson said while it is an ongoing problem, it actually is not as bad as it was a few years ago.
He said there used to be several large dump sites in the county, where residents consistently dropped off their trash. That does not occur anymore, there are just a few scattered areas.
He also noted there are still scattered areas along Airport Road and FM 1781 where dumping sometimes occurs.
As for the recent dumping discovered by the TxDOT crew, Jackson said, “We haven’t seen anything that large in a long time.”
Jackson also emphasized there is no need for residents to dump illegally since the implementation of the county’s free transfer card program.
Residents and property owners may pick up two cards per month which allow them to dispose of up to 500 pounds per card of household solid waste, rubbish, brush, and tires at no cost.
Residents and property owners may pick up cards by visiting the environmental health department. A total of 60 cards are distributed per week on Saturdays from 9 until 11 a.m. with the remainder given out beginning Mondays at 8 a.m. until all 60 are gone.
Recyclable items such as aluminum cans, plastic bottles, auto batteries and recyclable metals should be sorted from the solid waste being disposed, and there is no charge for disposal of many of those items.
The transfer station is only closed on Sundays and Mondays, but is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Jackson said sometimes there are problems with spillage, trash and debris falling off trucks and/or trailers. He said transfer station crews look out for spilled debris on the route to the transfer station and other crews pick up litter.
However with the availability of the free cards, even with the limit of only two per household per month, there should be no reason for residents to dump illegally.
To report illegal dumping, one may call Jackson at 790-0121. More information about the free card program also is available by calling that number.
Last week, TxDOT Maintenance Section Supervisor Rudy Rivera discovered a large amount of debris had been dumped on the frontage road between FM 2165 and FM 1069.
He said it took two dump trucks to pick up all the trash, noting it was probably dropped sometime during the night hours.
Several weeks ago, an Aransas County resident who lives on Wishert Road, discovered several items of trash and debris had been dropped along Airport Road near Wishert.
The debris included a large box full of household trash and several boards.
The resident reported she and her mother also walk in the early mornings, and several times they have foiled people’s attempts to dump trash along that road.
Environmental Health Inspector James Jackson said while it is an ongoing problem, it actually is not as bad as it was a few years ago.
He said there used to be several large dump sites in the county, where residents consistently dropped off their trash. That does not occur anymore, there are just a few scattered areas.
He also noted there are still scattered areas along Airport Road and FM 1781 where dumping sometimes occurs.
As for the recent dumping discovered by the TxDOT crew, Jackson said, “We haven’t seen anything that large in a long time.”
Jackson also emphasized there is no need for residents to dump illegally since the implementation of the county’s free transfer card program.
Residents and property owners may pick up two cards per month which allow them to dispose of up to 500 pounds per card of household solid waste, rubbish, brush, and tires at no cost.
Residents and property owners may pick up cards by visiting the environmental health department. A total of 60 cards are distributed per week on Saturdays from 9 until 11 a.m. with the remainder given out beginning Mondays at 8 a.m. until all 60 are gone.
Recyclable items such as aluminum cans, plastic bottles, auto batteries and recyclable metals should be sorted from the solid waste being disposed, and there is no charge for disposal of many of those items.
The transfer station is only closed on Sundays and Mondays, but is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Jackson said sometimes there are problems with spillage, trash and debris falling off trucks and/or trailers. He said transfer station crews look out for spilled debris on the route to the transfer station and other crews pick up litter.
However with the availability of the free cards, even with the limit of only two per household per month, there should be no reason for residents to dump illegally.
To report illegal dumping, one may call Jackson at 790-0121. More information about the free card program also is available by calling that number.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of rockportpilot.com.
Jim Schuman wrote on Aug 8, 2009 9:40 PM:
" My personal feelings are that some of the independant trash collectors do not cover their loads sufficiently and that trash is falling out of their trucks as they go down the roads. I have personnally witnessed this happening. Most of them do not stop and pick up the mess they make. Maybe the Sherriff's department can watch this instead of sitting in the Valero parking lot waiting for motorists to run the new stop signs on Market Street and the bypass or chasing trucks that are dodging the weigh station on the bypass. IMHO "
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Elizabeth Bell wrote on Aug 7, 2009 1:40 PM: