Eight Charged with Illegal Dumping

Eight men, including a Woodhaven resident, were busted in January by the city for illegally dumping building debris and other items at locations throughout the city, announced Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty.

The DSNY Task Force, comprised of plainclothes police officers from the Sanitation Department, monitors known dumping locations and seizes vehicles used to violate the law. The January impoundments included three in Brooklyn, one in Manhattan and three in the Bronx – including a location where a Woodhaven man was busted.

When the department catches an illegal dumper, its officers can make arrests and impound the vehicles used. The vehicle owner is subject to severe fines and is held responsible for any actions involving the vehicle – regardless of whether they are present or not. Fines currently start at $1,500 and range as high as $20,000 per violation. In addition, the dumper must pay the city a cleanup cost for the materials, generally about $150 per cubic yard.

In January, the following individuals were charged with illegally dumping materials:

Francisco Morales, of Brooklyn, was caught dumping about 20 cubic yards of rocks and dirt in front of 929 Dean Street on January 12 using a 2009 Peterbilt flatbed truck.

Youlan Zhang, of Brooklyn, was caught dumping about two cubic yards of black bags containing commercial waste opposite 125 51st Street in Brooklyn on January 27 using a 1997 Chevrolet van.

Michael Petersen, of the Bronx, was caught dumping about 16 cubic yards of dirt and rocks opposite 157 Columbia Street in Brooklyn on January 29 using a 2000 dump truck.

In Manhattan, James Cole was caught dumping about two cubic yards of milk crates at W. 155th Street and Bradhurst Avenue on January 14 using a 2001 Ford E-350.

Luca Gambardella, of Yonkers, and David Reynosa Milord, of Woodhaven, were caught on January 12 dumping about four cubic yards of dirt and rocks in front of 3640 Provest Avenue using a 1998 dump truck.

Ted Hurst, of the Bronx, was caught on January 22 dumping about one cubic yard of black bags in front of 3531 Bronxwood Avenue using a 1990 Toyota box truck.

On January 30, Michael Rallis of Staten Island was caught dumping about three cubic yards of construction debris in front of 4359 DeReimer Avenue in the Bronx using a 1999 Dodge Suburban.

One of DSNY’s resources for combating illegal dumping is the Illegal Dumper Tips Program, which allows residents to fight back without placing them at risk. For details, call 311 or check nyc.gov/sanitation.

”Illegal dumping is against the law,” said Commissioner Doherty. “If you do it, you will get caught. The Illegal Dumping Task Force is the city’s front line defense against illegal dumpers who shamefully use our streets and lots as their personal dumping grounds.”