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District 1 Dallas County Commissioner Valerie Reubin first became aware of the trash pileup on Sand Street, a quiet area near B & S Recycling, when she first took office four years ago in 2016.

Reubin said that County workers have cleaned up the area several times but despite their efforts, the area never stays clean for very long.

“As quick as we clean it up, they trash it again,” said the Commissioner.

After speaking with the neighborhood’s residents, Reubin learned that much of the trash is hauled in by people outside of the neighborhood.

“It really saddens my heart,” said Reubin. “These people could take all this to a landfill for free, but instead they just dump it on the side of the road.”

The heap of rubbish on the side of Sand Street includes all manner of discarded waste.

Beer bottles, bags of old clothes, toys, food scraps, tires, electronics, sections of sawn down trees and even a dilapidated row boat stretch back nearly 10 yards off of the street.

Reubin says the trash continues to pile up, despite fines of up to $1000 and even jail time for repeat offenders.

Reubin has high hopes that the Dallas County Commission will soon be able to hire a litter officer to catch offenders in the act.

“It’s sad that that’s what it takes,” said Reubin. “People only understand a fine… When I was growing up, cleanliness was next to Godliness, these people must not feel the same way.”

Until the county is able to hire a litter officer, Reubin encourages citizens to report any witnessed trash dumping activities.

“If you see something, say something,” she said.