BALTIMORE — Investigators with Baltimore's Housing Department recently sent out an investigator to the 4000 block of Gwynn Oak Avenue following complaints of illegal dumping.
As a result, DPW crews came in to clear out dumped mattresses and furniture. Still, trash remains and neighbors tell WMAR-2 News it's a constant issue.
"It’s really sad and I don’t appreciate it," said one woman who asked not to be identified.
The woman lives at the nearby Pangea Apartments. She told WMAR she see's people constantly dumping items across the street at the abandoned Bengies Groceries.
"I saw two guys pull up and drop off a pink sofa and furniture," she said.
The issue of illegal dumping also fills up her apartment's dumpster which is reserved for residential use only.
"People just come and dump," she said. "I have seen trucks come through here with bags, bags of trash."
The area has been a hot spot for illegal dumping for years says Sean Stinnett, president of the West Arlington Community Improvement Association.
"I drive around regularly," he said. "I look for abandoned cars and illegal dumping."
Recently he found took pictures of Bengies.
"The mattresses looked relatively new. I just wish people would take the items to proper drop off sites," he said.
Over the weekend DPW crews hauled away the trash and furniture. An inspector with the housing department also came out, looking for information that could link the furniture to a previous address and or/or owner.
"It’s not an issue of the city not doing their part," said Stinnett. "The city is doing its part but it’s just bad actors as far as people coming into our neighborhoods or people traveling through our neighborhoods and dumping things."
City leaders said it is working to track down the property owner of 4000 Gwynn Oak Road. The hope is that a fence can be built as a possible deterrent.
Anyone with information about this case of illegal dumping is asked to call 311.
For more information on combating illegal dumping click here
