Hamilton to extend illegal dumping project

City councillors approved spending another $165,000 to extend the program to prevent illegal dumping.

Project Trash Talk, initially a 12-month pilot project, launched in September. The additional cash approved by council Friday will extend it for another nine months, until June 2014.

The result "measurably improved conditions," senior director of parking and bylaw services Marty Hazell told the general issues committee meeting Monday. Hazell also said the city has received about 18 per cent fewer complaints from constituents about illegal dumping in the first eight months of the program.

The project uses four student employees and two unmarked vans with surveillance equipment to crack down on residents who dump trash and other waste illegally around the city. Lower city residents may also have seen "We are watching" signs warning against illegal dumping.

About 19 charges have been laid so far with the program.

Councillor Jason Farr, who introduced the motion to extend the project, said at council Friday residents in his Ward 2 have been helpful in communicating areas where illegal dumping happens in the city's north end.

It's that citizen support that councillor Sam Merulla that will keep this program successful.

"We need the assistance, over and above a bylaw, of our neighbours and residents to be part of the solution and try to engage and create an environment to prevent this kind of behaviour from existing," he said.

Merulla said he plans to meet with city manager Chris Murray to discuss community awareness of the campaign.