Illegal garbage dumping getting worse, Albany business owner says

ALBANY – Blankets and old clothing, a backpack, a battered jewelry cabinet and some old tires. Those were among the objects stuffed in and scattered around a garbage receptacle in the 1300 block of East Broad Alley.

For Lewis Douglas, owner of Douglas Paint & Body Shop at that location, the issue was that he wasn’t the person who filled the receptacle. The contents and overflow were put there by passersby and illegal dumpers.

On a recent day, Douglas was joined to examine the scene by Jwana Washington, executive director of Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful and Albany City Commissioner Jon Howard, in whose Ward I the business is located. Later, an employee with the city’s commercial waste service joined them.

The latter said that several of the city’s trucks used for commercial collections have been out of service recently and that the city will monitor the situation on East Broad Alley.

At that time, Douglas said, the container had not been emptied for two or three weeks.

The issue isn’t just one of aesthetics for the businessman, who has been at the location for 41 years. On another occasion about eight years ago, an overflowing commercial trash container at his business caught fire.

“It burned up three cars” that were parked in the rear of the shop, he said. “I don’t know why they’re not emptying it.”

In addition to being inconvenient for Douglas and an eyesore, the packed container and overflow around it can be a health hazard, according to Washington.

“This invites animals or varmints, different types of animals that can carry disease,” she said. “It’s not legal to do this. It’s not properly disposing of your waste.”

Nearly all of the junk dumped at Douglas’ shop, including the clothes and jewelry cabinet, could have been dropped off at no charge. The 2521 Meredyth Drive recycling center accepts old aluminum cans, bottles, cardboard and paperboard and even old furniture such as sofas.

KADB also accepts nearly all commercial electronics, as well as old cellphones and computer equipment, at its 2106 Habersham Road headquarters. Most items can be left at no charge, with the exception of old-style television sets with large backs and some older computer monitors.

Individuals can call ahead at (229) 302-3098 to make sure Washington is available to accept the items.

In addition, individuals are allowed to drop off up to five tires at no cost at the Dougherty County Landfill, but that is meant to be a one-time-per-household occurrence.

Residential customers who have more garbage than will fit in their containers can place the excess beside those containers in plastic bags, and it will be picked up, Washington said.

“We also have a rollout container for household garbage on Meredyth Drive,” she said.

Douglas said he understands that the city has had equipment problems in recent weeks, but he still thinks that the issue of illegal dumping is getting worse, not better.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “I’m just trying to inform the public about illegal dumping. It would help everybody.”

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]