TUCSON, Ariz. — Trashed yards and illegal dumping can bring down your home values and make your neighborhood less safe. But there are ways you can fight back and keep your community clean.
One man's trash can end up being another person's problem.
“If everybody does a little bit,” said Abdul Chaudhry. “This place would be great.”
Chaudhry has lived in Tucson for 14 years and he cares about his community.
“I go that way, then I go this way and this way,” he said waiving a mechanical grabber around. “Especially by the mail box because people just drop their junk mail.”
Armed with his grabber and a bucket he does the best he can.
“Bending will make you tired so fast, so this way I can pick it up and keep moving.”
Abdul's neighborhood association president is a kindred spirit.
“Doing a clean-up, we found the Stonehenge of shopping carts,” said Midvale Park Neighborhood Association President Joseph Miller. “Target shopping carts in a big circle, it was epic.”
Joseph miller has been battling junk in Midvale Park for 14 years.
He says shopping carts, illegal dumping, and trashed yards can bring down a neighborhood fast.
“Because what that does is the broken window effect, you see broken glass, graffiti, and that's all connected, it is one thing leads to another.”
Tucson's city code does have a neighborhood preservation ordinance.
“Shopping carts is probably one of the most reported things through the app,” said Environmental Services Spokesperson Cristina Polsgrove.
Polsgrove suggests downloading their recycle coach app to report violators. Or call their customer service number 791-3171. You can also find more information on the city of Tucson's website, or report an issue at SeeClickFix.com.
Some common complaints that could cost violators up to $2,500 in fines include grass and weeds over 6 inches tall, illegal dumping, and junked cars.
“They have to be operable, they have to be registered, and if they are not running they have to be covered, and not with on old sheet, a real car cover,” said Polsgrove.
Pima County code enforcement suggests trying to talk to your neighbors first before calling them in.
“People are basically good, sometimes they have other problems bigger than cleaning up,” said Abdul.
Abdul says he doesn't mind pitching in.
“Everybody does their share and I do mine, and it makes me feel good.”
