East Orange Cracks Down On Illegal Dumping After 2 Trashy Incidents

EAST ORANGE, NJ — In July, a man was captured on camera dumping a refrigerator on a street corner in East Orange in front of a medical center. Two days later, another man was caught on video unloading 33 old tires in a city-owned lot.

Now, city officials are saying “enough is enough” when it comes to illegal dumping in East Orange.

On Thursday, East Orange Mayor Ted Green announced that the East Orange Police Department and the city’s department of code enforcement will be teaming up to crack down on illegal dumping, with plans to hold violators accountable to the “maximum extent of the law.”

Green and other city officials offered the two above incidents as examples of why they’re launching their illegal dumping campaign. Neither man lives in East Orange, and both have been issued summonses, authorities said.

Fines for illegal dumping range from $200 to $50,000 based on the items being discarded, city officials said. Perpetrators may also lose their driver’s license and road privileges for a set period of time or even have to forfeit their vehicles. And if the city cleaned up the mess, the illegal dumper will have to foot the bill.

The dumping of hazardous waste is considered an environmental crime and those who do so may be subject to arrest, jail time and mandated community service, authorities noted.

East Orange officials said that local residents and business owners have made a “marked increase” in how well they’ve been maintaining their properties. And it’s not fair to them when out-of-town litterbugs come to the city, Green said.

“Enough is enough,” the mayor said. “We are going to use whatever weapons we have in our arsenal to go after these violators who have the audacity to come into our city and shamefully leave their garbage on public property.”

“These same people wouldn’t dare dump in some of our neighboring towns, and they are going to soon learn that they better not do it in East Orange,” Green said.

Public Safety Director Maurice Boyd said that the department’s state-of-the-art technology is one of the greatest assets in combating illegal dumping, and it should give potential dumpers a reason to think twice.

“Littering and illegal dumping are against the law, and those who do it, will get caught,” Boyd said.

Authorities said anyone who wants to anonymously report littering and illegal dumping can call 973-266-5320 or 973-266-5330.

FALL CLEANUP

The next citywide Fall Cleanup event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14. It will begin at East Orange City Hall at 10 a.m.

Participants will receive a continental breakfast and cleaning supplies before heading into neighborhoods for targeted cleaning and beautification. All nonprofit groups, business owners, block associations, residents and students are encouraged to participate, officials said.

To register or join a group, call Constituent Services at 973-266-5151.

“Our neighborhoods are beautiful and our city is blessed with plenty of open, green space for our families and visitors to enjoy,” Green said. “If we all work collectively, we can and will keep our city clean.”

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