Cleveland residents in the Stockyard, Clark-Fulton & Brooklyn Centre neighborhood believe they are the target of increased illegal dumping.
They pointed to illegal dumping so prolific, it's now blocking access to a growing number of alleys on Cleveland's west side.
West 52 Street resident Eric Ogurkis told newsnet5.com problem dumping has been a perpetual problem for the past two years in his neighborhood.
"Just as quick as they clean it, somebody else is laying something else down," said Ogurkis. "Our inner city is garbage. I seems to me our city cares more about the downtown area, instead of our inner city."
Orgurkis and Stockyards clean-up crew leader David Reuse believe one way to curb illegal dumping is to increase hours at the Ridge Road Transfer Station.
Currently the facility closes at 3 PM, Reuse told newsnet5.com if hours were extended it would stop some from dumping in the neighborhoods.
Reuse also believes the rules at the Ridge Road dump need to be relaxed, he pointed to truck restrictions that won't allow trucks with loads that exceed the top of the truck bed.
"They are denied access to the city dump, and the first neighborhood they come to is Stockyards," said Reuse. That's where 85 to 90% of the dumping happens in this neighborhood."
Cleveland city hall responded to our story, telling newsnet5.com there are no plans to increase hours or relax rules at the transfer station.
A Cleveland spokesman said residents can now use the dump up to four times a year free of charge.
