Thursday, May 2, 2024
Hood County is seeing illegal dumping happening all over and is attempting to slow down the levels of littering. Illegal dumping is defined under the Texas Constitution as litter dumped anywhere other than in an approved solid waste site.
Under the Texas Health and Safety Code, there are three different misdemeanor charges that can be filed against those who litter and even a state jail felony. Typically, these incidents only result in a Class C Misdemeanor citation, which is given to someone who illegally dumps waste that weighs five pounds or less or has a volume of five gallons or less.
According to Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds, there were 55 trash dumping calls in 2023, up from 2022 when there were 40 calls.
“Most were checked into and the owner and the trash was found and then cleaned up,” Deeds said. “There are some that we are still looking into. It’s not as easy as just finding an envelope with a name on it, so we have to ask around to try to find witnesses and then go from there.”
When it comes to this new year, Deeds and his team plan to “stay on top of all problems and encourage people to call in if they see suspicious people that are dumping so we can check it out and take action.”
John Shirley, Hood County Precinct 2 Constable is taking the issue into his own hands. About a year ago, Shirley took a course on illegal dumping in Hood County. He then created his own “Pile Up Program” with the county and gave free vouchers to community members for the citizens collection station. The collection station allows the community to pay a fee to dump recyclables and bulk items.
Shirley learned quickly that many people in the community don’t have access to a vehicle, so he has gone around the county helping those who need take loads to the collection station.
“As a county, we need to do more if we can and do it in a way that doesn’t cost the taxpayers a bunch of money,” Shirley said. Shirley added that in his role, it is important to do his best to help the community. He noted he has had a change of view on what his career means and has learned to think outside the box.
He took the initiative to start picking up trash on his own and doing illegal dumping investigations and hopes to bring awareness to the issue.
“My intent is not to put people in jail or fine people. My intent is to get the roads in Hood County cleaned up,” Shirley told the HCN. “Change has to start somewhere, and it starts with you. Be the change you want to see in the world.”
He added the trash piles around the county not only take away the beauty of the county but also can cause major health issues.
“We have one of the fastest growing counties in the country and if we don’t keep it clean, people aren’t going to want to come here, be here, live here or spend their money here,” Shirley said. “Let’s make Hood County great.”
Shirley hopes to eventually create and run an organization for the community to come together and work to pick up trash.
For more information on illegal dumping, visit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality website at www.tceq.texas.gov and to report illegal dumping contact the Hood County Sheriff’s Office at 817-579-3316 or contact Shirley at jshirley@co.hood.tx.us.
