Department of Environmental Quality - DEQ

Highland Park Illegal Dumping Task Force - A Community Success Story - March 14, 2007

 

Illegal dumping had become a chronic problem in Highland Park in recent years.  Economic circumstances forced the community into financial receivership, and for a time resulted in limited police surveillance.  In addition, the neighborhoods targeted for illegal dumping have many abandoned homes and are adjacent to a freeway.  Dumpers could exit the freeway, dump a load of trash, and be on their way in minutes.  The few homeowners in the area often did not observe the dumping when it occurred or could not get immediate police assistance when they did. (click on photo to enlarge)

What had started out as dumping complaints soon turned into a Highland Park Illegal Dumping Task Force, which has since taken on a life of its own.  The Task Force consists of representatives from government, law enforcement, community organizations, and residents.  Shortly after the Task Force was formed, the group proclaimed zero tolerance of dumping and resolved to do more than simply clean up offending areas.
 

The first project of the Task Force was to clean up two areas of unprecedented dumping and blight within the city of Highland Park.  This was easier said than done, since there was no funding source associated with the Task Force.  Each member of the Task Force managed to bring something to the table, which resulted in video surveillance of the targeted areas as well as stepped up surveillance from city, county, and state law enforcement agencies.  Homeowners were given flyers with a telephone number to call, as well as instructions on how they could help identify vehicles and individuals if they witnessed dumping in their neighborhood.  In addition, 2,000 cubic yards of solid waste and 1,800 scrap tires were removed from the two targeted areas.  The Task Force also had tall grass cut and placed barriers at strategic points to discourage illegal dumpers from accessing the vacant streets.  Video cameras were installed in strategic locations in the area for continuous monitoring.  As a result, very little new trash has been dumped in the area in the year since the cleanup occurred.
 

The effort has been so successful that the Task Force has remained intact and has continued with public education.  The Task Force has provided illegal dumping training for law enforcement officers working in the area and is now targeting other dumping sites in Highland Park.
 

Task Force members were also proud to the recipients of one of the five Coordination Honor Awards presented this year by the U.S. Department of Justice.  This award is given in recognition of the innovative initiatives taken by Weed and Seed participants nationwide.  Weed and Seed is a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice for high crime areas to weed out crime by seeding neighborhood restoration.

Members of the Task Force and their roles in the cleanup are:
 

  • Office of Highland Park Weed and Seed coordinated the cleanup, submitted the grant proposal that generated a portion of funding for the project, and mobilized the community.

     

  • Focus: HOPE, a civil and human rights organization in Detroit, facilitated the Task Force and provided meeting rooms for both meetings and press conferences.

     

  • City of Highland Park provided equipment and manpower, modified its ordinance to facilitate prosecution of illegal dumpers, and provided public safety response to reports of illegal dumping.

     

  • Michigan Department of Environmental Qualitys Waste and Hazardous Materials Division and Office of Criminal Investigations monitored the cleanup and hauling, arranged for tire disposal, arranged for installation of concrete barriers, obtained aerial photos of the sites, provided law enforcement assistance, and investigated dumping in the cleanup area.  Converted a facilitys monetary penalty in a Consent Order to a Supplemental Environmental Project to provide hauling of cleanup waste.

     

  • Wayne Countys Executive Office and Department of Environment provided on-site supervision and logistical planning and signage and arranged for landfill space and temporary barriers.

     

  • Wayne County Prosecutors Office provided a $5,000 grant and drafted more stringent revisions to Highland Park ordinances.

     

  • Wayne County Sheriffs Office provided cleanup manpower in the form of supervised low-risk jail inmates.
    Michigan State Police assisted in law enforcement efforts.

     

  • City of Detroit Police Department provided photos of the targeted dump sites and took Michigan Department of Environmental Quality staff up in their helicopters to obtain aerial photos.

     

  • New Center Hauling, Detroit, provided waste hauling services as part of a Supplemental Environmental Project with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Waste and Hazardous Materials Division.
    Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church coordinated community involvement, provided manpower to segregate scrap tires from other waste, and provided meals for the inmates.

     

  • Texas Encore Materials, Romulus, accepted the scrap tires at no charge and processed them into asphalt, astroturf, and/or auto parts.

     

  • Wayne County Road Commission provided temporary barriers to facilitate the cleanup.

     

  • Michigan Department of Transportation provided permanent concrete barriers and offered street sweeping once the debris had been removed.
     

The success of this project goes to show that when diverse interests come together in pursuit of one common cause, that the benefits derived are limitless.  Protecting our environment, public health, and safety is a value all of Michigan can work together to achieve.

United States Department of Justice Coordination Honor Award