Two Miami-Dade residents are now facing felony charges after investigators from the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management busted them for illegal dumping of construction debris. The department's Special Investigations Unit caught the perpetrators in the act near NW 74th Street and NW 12th Avenue, due to the surveillance cameras installed after previous incidents in the area. Investigators were able to clearly identify the vehicle's license plate, which led to detainment and charges, according to a Miami-Dade County release.
Further surveillance allowed investigators to catch the suspects in the act as they returned with a truckload of trash for illegal disposal. This prompted a swift response from Miami-Dade Police Department officers, who detained the suspects. The volume of the dumped waste was an alarming 120 cubic feet, qualifying the offense as a felony under local law.
The driver’s confession revealed that this was not their first offense, as six previous dumping incidents were uncovered, resulting in six separate $250 citations, plus a $10 surcharge each. "Illegal dumping is a serious crime that harms our environment and comes with heavy penalties," said Aneisha Daniel, PhD, DSWM Director, in a Miami-Dade government press release.
The cost of illegal dumping is not only measured in environmental damage but also in fiscal terms, with nearly $1.7 million spent by Miami-Dade in 2023 on enforcement and cleanup efforts. Residents are urged to be vigilant and to report any suspected illegal dumping activities by calling 911 as it happens or through 311 for past events. The report encourages the public to never directly confront individuals conducting such activities but instead to take note of important details like license plates discreetly.
For those seeking to learn more about the county's efforts to combat illegal dumping or to report an incident, information can be found on the official Miami-Dade website or through the free MDC Solid Waste mobile app, available on iTunes and Google Play.
