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Trash in the
Canals |
Out of Sight, Out of Mind?
Definitely not! We're talking about the practice of dumping yard waste, grass clippings,
and other trash into the canal or river. We've all seen it. Your neighbor, or his yard
service, with the blower roaring away--leaves, grass, and other junk blowing in clouds
into the canal. In a very short time, that trash has settled to the bottom and the process
of decomposition takes place. But it all never quite goes away. Our neighbors who have
been here for many years say that our canals aren't as deep as they used to be. Just a
little shallower, but nonetheless filling up with something. That something is mostly
organic trash!
Throwing anything into the canal or the river is illegal! The Broward County Code (Pollution Control), reprinted here in part, says:
BROWARD COUNTY CODE--POLLUTION CONTROL
Sec. 27-214. Prohibitions
(a) No person shall throw, discard, place, maintain or deposit, or suffer or allow to be thrown, discarded, placed, maintained or deposited, any solid waste in any amount whatsoever in or on any public highway, road, street, alley, thoroughfare, or any public or private property in Broward County, or into any waters of Broward County.
Solid Waste means materials that have been disposed or are no longer used for their originally intended uses such as, but not limited to, litter, garbage, refuse, yard trash, clean debris, white goods, special waste, ashes, sludge, or any discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from domestic, industrial, commercial, mining, agricultural, or governmental operations.
So, please stop the practice of disposing of stuff in the canal; and ask your lawn or pool service to do the same. If the service refuses, suggest to them that there are other services that are willing to comply with the law. It's a federal law, too. Broward County enforces it.
If they still refuse, here's what the County (DPEP) suggests:
1. Ask the person to desist. Advise that it's against the law. Be patient. Be polite.
2. If this doesn't work, use a still or video camera to record the incident. Try to get the name of the lawn service or take a picture of the service's truck while an employee is throwing trash into the canal. Don't trespass to get pictures! Write down anything the authorities might be able to use later.
3. Call the DPEP 24/7 complaint line at 954 519-1499. They'll take it from there. There is also a submittal form on their website.
The canals are our back yard. Protect them. How would you feel if someone were throwing trash over the fence into your back yard?