April 25, 2023 by Nesibe Selma
LSLA’s Environmental Justice Team Works with the City of Houston to Combat Illegal Dumping
OneClean Houston Plan
This year, the Houston Mayor’s office has released a plan to combat illegal dumping called OneClean Houston Plan. The plan calls for better enforcement, prevention, and education on the consequences of illegal dumping.
The OneClean Houston Plan is a combined effort between the Mayor’s office and community members, which include homeowners, community members, the industry, and nonprofits, including Lone Star Legal Aid. The plan came into fruition after the Department of Justice agreed to investigate the City.
The investigation was spurred by a complaint filed late last year by Lone Star Legal Aid for a neighborhood in northeast Houston. Residents complained about people dumping tires, sofas, mattresses, TVs and other items on the streets. Some illegal dumping clogged drainage ditches, which increased flooding problems during heavy rains.
In addition to the clean-up efforts, this plan will also focus on holding offenders responsible for their actions. A significant amount of the $18 million allocated to this plan will be invested in better security cameras and investigators, who will identify violators.
What is illegal dumping?
Illegal dumping is the unlawful act of disposing trash on land where it’s not permitted to do so. Such an act is “considered a crime and a threat to public health and safety” and is a particularly prevalent issue in the city of Houston.
The fines and penalties for illegally dumping can add up to thousands of dollars, and in some cases, jail time. The severity of the punishment depends on the amount of waste dumped.
How can you help combat illegal dumping?
According to the Texas Disposal Systems, “during cleanups, Texans collect more than 14 million pounds of trash and recyclables, equivalent to the weight of 16,100 Texas longhorns.”
As a member of the community, you can take initiative. Here’s how:
- Organize and/or volunteer in cleanups
- Practice recycling
- Place “no dumping” signs near dumpsters
In addition to these practical methods of involvement, the OneClean Houston Plan urges citizens to submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers to be eligible for a cash award of up to $5,000.
You can now provide tips to police through HPD’s online crime reporting form or the RAT-on-a-RAT Hotline at (713) 525-2728.
Stay tuned for updates on how LSLA is assisting and promoting the City of Houston’s new OneClean Houston Plan.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
