OK, folks, who wants an extra $250?
In case you missed my story on Sunday, there’s now a reward being offered for the arrest and conviction of people dumping everything including a bathroom sink at either the Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority (WWRA) facility, the Old Manchester Road drop-off recycling site or other recycling drop-off sites in the area.
Just last weekend alone, Phil Bolyard, WWRA manager, found six tires, a bathroom vanity and bathroom sink and wood in front of WWRA gate on Werkner Road.
At the Old Manchester Road drop-off site, he found a twin mattress and box spring, plus a small cabinet, and someone stuffed one recycling bin full of plastic tarps from a construction site.
Did you witness this dumping this weekend? Did you perhaps, get a license plate or make of any of these vehicles?
Frank Hammer, chairman of the WWRA board, reminds people that there is also a $1,000 fine if someone is caught and convicted, and, he says, dumping continues to increase.
In the last month, here’s a tally of what’s been found: a couch, loveseat, chair and entertainment center, 4 gallons of used motor oil, a paddle boat, exercise bike, fertilizer spreader, lawn mower, enough visqueen (a polyethylene plastic sheeting) to cover a house, shrink wrap off a boat, eight large fiberglass reinforced bags and 23 tires.
“The amount of trash has risen from 25 tons a month to nearly 100 tons in July at $35 per ton,” Hammer says, adding, “This negates the operating assessment paid by 101 township residents or 60 city residents.”
So, please keep your eyes open and your phone in hand to snap a photo if you witness someone dumping these kinds of things. Then report what you’ve seen to the Chelsea Police if you see it in Chelsea or the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department or the State Police.
There’s still plenty of summer left to find fun ways to spend that $250 reward. (Think Chelsea Community Fair for one.)
