Illegal dumping is a growing problem

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - With the slump in the economy, more illegal dump sites are popping up.

Travis County taxpayers are spending nearly $1 million each year to clean up illegal dump sites. Now there is a new plan to combat the trash.

However, currently there is only one environmental investigating detective for all of Travis County.

"It's an uphill battle,” said detective Sidney Parker. “I'm always going to be behind the curve."

Those who live near some of the dump sites are sick of the mess.

"Just a lot of garbage along the road, and the vacant property behind my house it’s like bags of garbage, tires things like that,” said Edward Yabrough. “I have noticed it over the last couple months.”

Yarbrough lives near the Howard Lane and Dessau Road dump site.

"These are everywhere," said Parker.

There is furniture, a toilet and roofing shingles.

"Pretty much anything you can imagine is being dumped,” said Parker.

At one site off of Cameron Road, there are at least 200 tires. Each tire costs the county $6 to throw away properly.

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office is now using grant money to install solar-powered, hidden surveillance cameras. The county is also considering funding a civil enforcement inspector to help crack down on the problem.

Even with the new cameras the sheriff's office depends on the public to report the sites and suspected dumpers.

If you see illegal dumping in progress, you are asked to call 911. To report a site, you can call 1-877-663-8677.