Camera Surveillance Helps Deter Tinley 'Fly Dumpers'

The Recycling Drop-Off center at 80th Avenue and 183rd Street is under constant video surveillance and boasts a large sign listing banned items, but that isn’t enough to stop some from breaking the law.

If you’re talking fly-dumping, Steve Vaccaro said the police department has seen it all.

“There’s been an assortment, everything from tires, to plastic slides from kids’ swing sets ... " he said. "One gentleman dropped off nine computer monitors."

But who is dumping? Moms? Teens? The commander didn’t hesitate.

“It’s males,” he said. “No soccer moms.”

Residents who have noticed piles of paint cans, stacks of slats and mountains of computer monitors abandoned by the dumpster may have wondered where this trash goes.

Turns out, the police department has a simple, yet elegant solution. Fly-dumpers, you have to clean up your own mess.

“One of our public work supervisors reviews the video, then he’ll give me a call,” Vaccaro explained. “We find property that shouldn’t be dumped, we’ll look at the license plate of the car, then we’ll call that person."

Officers will define "illegal dumping" for the alleged offender, he said, and will give them a description of the culprit caught on camera.

"We tell them, ‘You have until 3 o'clock tomorrow to pick up this material,’” Vaccaro said.

What if someone is a scofflaw, refusing to pick up their trash?

“Well, in that case, they’ll be issued a citation,” he said, adding that the fine is a whopping $750. “They’re very cooperative residents when we can identify them. “We don’t want to be heavy-handed, we don’t want to be punitive, we want to give you the chance to make it right.”

So, while residents may wish they could just snap their fingers and clear out those old tires or paint cans from the garage, they shouldn't do it, he said.

“If you dump it here, there’s a cost,” Vaccaro said. “Illegal dumping costs the village to dispose of whatever it is that they’re leaving. If it’s old paint, several communities have annual events where you can drop off paint, prescription medicines, oils or gasolines."

Still wondering if what you’re bringing is legit?

“Glass, paper, aluminum, plastic,” he said, of what's permitted.

Or you could, ya know, read the sign.