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Illegal dumping becoming a nuisance in NE Kansas City

Posted at 10:29 PM, Feb 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-21 23:29:28-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In Kansas City's Northeast, there's a vacant lot near 24 Highway and Booth Avenue that is being used as an illegal dumping site. 

There's old food containers, parts of stripped cars, pieces of furniture and bags of garbage thrown all over the ground. And despite the "no dumping, no trespassing" signs, every day the pile grows. 

"It embarrasses me to death if anybody asks me where I live," one neighbor told 41 Action News. 

She did not want to be identified but contacted 41 Action News for help. 

"Everyday we have to drive by it," she said. "You go to bed at night, if you leave the next morning there might be two or three fresh piles of something."

41 Action News contacted Kansas City's illegal dumping investigator Alan Ashurst, who met us at the dumping site immediately. 

"These aren't individuals coming around, driving around looking for places to dump their stuff. This stuff is coming from the activities taking place in these two properties down here," he said, pointing to nearby homes. 

Ashurst said this type of dumping is actually considered a by-product of illegal activity. It's very common around the city and hard to keep track of. 

He's now conducting an investigation to determine who is responsible for dumping the trash. 

"If we didn't get ahold of this and get it under control, in another year... it would be four times as bad. And probably past control at that point," Ashurst said. 

To report illegal dumping, you can call 311. 

Anyone found guilty of dumping trash where they should not could face fines up to $1,000 or one year in jail.