The Brief
A new initiative to crack down on illegal dumping is expanding to Dallas, Houston, and El Paso.
TxDOT is using surveillance cameras at suspected sites to identify and prosecute illegal dumpers.
The program, which began in San Antonio, has already led to the identification of four individuals.
AUSTIN – An increased effort to prevent illegal trash dumping has resulted in more monitoring of Texas roadways.
The Texas Department of Public Safety says the move adds a new twist to “Don’t Mess with Texas.”
Texas illegal dumping crack down
The initiative began in San Antonio, and is now expanding to new territories, the TxDOT release says.
The department collaborated with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and local law enforcement to design and implement the plan, which involved setting up cameras at suspected dumping sites.
New areas being outfitted with the investigation points include El Paso, Dallas and Houston districts of TxDOT.
The effort so far has identified four illegal dumpers.
TxDOT’s Compliance Division places cameras in debris to try and identify individuals engaged in illegal dumping. Photo provided by Compliance Division.
What they’re saying
“TCEQ’s Environmental Crimes Unit supports this initiative and has worked with TxDOT for the past few years on illegal dumping sites,” said Malcolm Ferris, a TCEQ investigator. “Through these partnerships and utilizing our combined resources, we are able to more efficiently address illegal dumping.”
The Source
Information in this article came from the Texas Department of Public Safety.