TRAVIS — A crackdown on illegal dumping led to an arrest, a vehicle being impounded and 100 truck tires removed from the street, Minority Leader Steven Matteo announced.
Last month, Matteo teamed with the Department of Sanitation to set up a surveillance team focusing on dumping at hot spots across the Staten Island.
On Feb. 18, the team caught a man dumping a large wooden cable spool into the wooded area across from 333 Chelsea Road, arrested him and impounded his vehicle, Matteo said.
"I sincerely hope this recent crackdown makes it clear that we are serious about stopping illegal dumping and preventing people from defiling our borough," Matteo said.
"Illegal dumping is not a victimless crime — it hurts our communities and our businesses and damages our environment."
The non-profit "clean team" Where to Turn — funded by a City Council grant — picked up 100 truck tires from Chelsea Road over the weekend, Matteo said.
Matteo said illegal dumping has been a growing problem around the borough and volunteers have previously collected truck tires, televisions, plywood, a metal cabinet and a leather sofa from spots around Travis.
To help curb the issue, more DSNY officers were sent to problem locations since Feb. 1 and the agency agreed to use surveillance cameras to catch illegal dumpers.
The agency will also offer rewards for information that leads to the arrest of an illegal dumper, Matteo said.
Violators of the laws can face fines between $1,500 to $10,000 and could have their vehicles impounded by the Sanitation Department or NYPD.
