A second home-security video surfaced Friday that appears to show a Priority Waste garbage truck leaking foul-smelling "garbage juice" along several residential blocks in Eastpointe, leaving dark stains and a stench that would not go away. Neighbors say their doorbell and security cameras caught the same truck backing up and releasing liquid on more than one trash-collection day. The latest clip has city officials and state environmental regulators asking questions while residents worry about what, exactly, washed into their neighborhood.
Doorbell footage and residents' accounts
As reported by WXYZ, homeowners along Piper Street, Ash Street and Pleasant Avenue reviewed recordings that show a truck reversing and letting a stream of liquid pour onto the pavement. Neighbors said they saw used sanitary products and broken glass mixed in with the puddles and that the spills left stubborn stains along with an overpowering odor that hung over the blocks.
Company response and expert concern
Priority Waste told WXYZ it sent crews to sweep and remediate the affected streets, formally reprimanded the driver and started corrective-action training. Wayne State University professor Carol Miller told the station, "The fact that it was in a residential area to me makes it even more of a concern." Eastpointe City Manager Ryan Madis said the city is logging complaints and coordinating with the hauler, and the corporate site for Priority Waste lists a customer line at 1-855-927-8365.
Why leachate is a regulatory concern
Leachate, the liquid that drains from decomposing trash and is often nicknamed "garbage juice," can carry a mix of contaminants and is subject to collection and monitoring rules at landfills, according to EGLE. The agency has also issued guidance and sampling protocols for emerging contaminants such as PFAS, which is why regulators treat leachate showing up on neighborhood streets as more than just a nuisance.
What's next
State investigators are continuing to review the videos while Eastpointe officials and the hauler say they are documenting and responding to complaints. If EGLE finds that the dumping violated state solid-waste rules, the agency can require cleanup work and pursue enforcement. In the meantime, neighbors say they plan to keep pushing for clearer reporting and tighter oversight of the contractor rolling through their streets.
