Sunnyside residents angry over illegal dumping issues persisting near town depot

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Sunnyside residents told ABC13 they are fed up with an illegal dumping site in the 9500 block of Jutland Road.

The side of this block is home to trash, broken concrete, furniture, paint cans, and even an old boat.

“It's been like this for decades,” Travis McGee, who lives in the area, told ABC13, adding that the problem has been going on for years. “It hasn’t gotten any better.”

Anthony Simmons also lives in Sunnyside and said he has noticed the problem has gotten even worse over the past 12 months.

“The ditches are always full of trash,” Simmons said.

SEE ALSO: $17 million initiative aims to combat illegal dumping program in Houston

When Eyewitness News contacted the City of Houston Solid Waste Department about these complaints, they said that this particular street was cleaned up two weeks ago, but was dumped again the next day.

McGee said that never happened. He also shared a photo dated May 7 showing the same abandoned boat that sits along the street on Tuesday.

This location is in the city's District D, which Councilwoman Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz represents. McGee unsuccessfully ran against her for the position in 2023.

Evans-Shabazz acknowledged that illegal dumping is a recurring problem in this region.

“It’s a terrible hot spot, and we will continue to address it,” Evans-Shabazz said.

SEE ALSO: Illegal dumping continues to grow in Sunnyside, even after neighbors file complaints to 311

There is a City of Houston depot in the 10000 block of Jutland where residents can legally dispose of their heavy waste. However, city leaders and residents believe people are being turned away from this site and are resorting to throwing objects along the road as an illegal alternative.

Evans-Shabazz said the area would be reduced following this report, but acknowledged it would likely return to being a dumping ground until alternative measures were taken.

She suggested putting up signs in the area to indicate that dumping is illegal, in addition to relaxing some guidelines for legal waste disposal at the depot.

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