Dear PoPville – Help in Getting Rid of Illegal Dumping

“Dear PoPville,

We are at our wits end. I have a suspicion we are not the only city residents dealing with this issue. Our calls and emails to city officials have thus far been helpful in getting us on the right track to navigate DC’s bureaucracy. But we’ve been told the soonest possible date this huge trash heap can be cleaned up is October 3. And that is unlikely as the city will send out yet another inspector to see if the property owner has cleaned up the mess and only then will they hire a contractor to actually do the clean up.

This heap has been in existence at a now vacant home since September 1. It has grown a little every week. The mattress you see on top and the glass cabinet and cardboard box in the foreground are new this week. All of the homes adjacent to the vacant property are now dealing with cockroach and rodent infestations. The picture does not do justice to the depth of the pile.

I want 2 things to happen:

1) This pile needs to be cleaned up and thrown away.
2) Whoever is adding to the pile needs to stop.

I’d be curious to hear from other people who have dealt with similar issues. How did you get it done?

Thanks,
Neighbors on the 900 block of 7th St NE”

I’ve had success with 311 but it seems like this could also be a public health issue with rodent infestations. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Anyway (besides contacting your council member) to get the city to expedite the clean up?