Every year, during the summer months, city employees, community groups, neighborhood associations are involved in cleaning up certain sections of the city. Although these volunteers work together admirably, the fruit of their efforts does not last for long. In a few days, the city begins to be subject to illegal dumping.
The pictures on Trash it out! shown by Jose Ayala on Facebook show dumping on May St. along the fence with the cemetery; on Bruce Street between Berkeley and Cornish and the last one, in an alley between Salem and Springfield streets. This shows the lack of scruples of certain individuals who throw their garbage everywhere without thinking that if they are caught, the fines they can receive are much more than it would cost them to pay the city to collect them.
In its webpage, the City of Lawrence presents a detailed list of articles and prices that will cost you to get rid of them. In other words, how much the city charges for collecting these items that some people at risk of being fined, perhaps for lack of knowledge, throw on the streets. And the saddest part, MATTRESSES, which are the most frequently seen items, are collected for FREE by the company that collects the garbage. Just call them and make an appointment.
But as long as this happens, the city must act with a stiff hand, posting banners that prohibit the illegal throwing of garbage and setting fines for violators. But the city cannot do it alone; it needs the help of all its citizens. It is time for us to rescue our city from the hands of unscrupulous people, who often come from neighboring cities to throw their garbage. It is time to stay alert and to any vehicle we see throwing garbage, take the number of the plate and communicate it to the authorities, so that they act accordingly.
