Illegal Dumping a Big Problem in Collier

With its rural landscape and country roads, has always been a popular spot for people to illegally dump garbage and used building materials.

So the township commissioners are now looking to clean up dump sites, step up enforcement and strengthen the fines.

“We have 13-square miles and a lot of country and a lot of rural roads,” township Manager Sal Sirabella said. “It’s been open dumping season in Collier for years because we have so many rural areas.”

Sirabella said during that the current $1,000 fine for dumping is too lenient, and he suggested that a $2,500 penalty would be more of a deterrent. He also said signs should be installed near “notorious” dumping areas such as Scotts Run and Boyds Run, and they should be cleaned to prevent more problems.

The problem is so bad that the public works crews has filled a Dumpster with the waste, costing the township money and man hours.

Sirabella added that this is not typical household refuse, but industrial building materials from job sites, refrigerators, tires and other bulk waste. He and the commissioners think most of the dumping is being done by people who live and work outside of the township.

The commissioners are expected to draft a resolution next month that will allow them to install signs, clean up the garbage, increase fines and direct the police to strictly enforce the dumping ordinance.

After the meeting, Sirabella sent out a memo to the police department to specifically watch problem spots that include Fort Pitt Road, Ridge Road, Scotts Run Road, Baldwin Road, Boyds Run Road, Steen Hollow Road, Baldwin Road Ext., Gregg Station Road, Nike Site Road and Pinkerton Run Road.

Also during the meeting...

• could be in jeopardy because of its cumbersome location between proposed athletic fields and other park buildings. The long building would be costly to renovate and its shape offers only limited uses. The commissioners could decide soon to demolish the building in order to give the park more space for the athletic fields. The building currently houses exercise equipment for residents to use for workouts. “My feeling is that the building is in the middle of everything and I’m not sure that’s a good thing,” Commissioner Tim Young said.

• Sirabella said the township plans to do soil testing to ensure it is safe. Trucks have been dropping fill in the area to expand the park, and the commissioners want to let the residents know that it is safe. The commissioners said they would like to “clean up the area” and make it more pleasing to passing motorists and people who use the nearby playground.

• The commissioners voted 4-0 to hire Steve Mitrisin as a full-time . Commissioner Wilson Durisko was absent from the meeting.

• The township is currently searching for candidates to replace public works Director Stanley “Stush” Yablonski, who is retiring in April.

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