COLUMBUS, Ohio — Linden residents are raising their voices against a growing litter problem that's plaguing some of their streets. A 10TV investigation revealed a complex issue involving multiple jurisdictions and a community desperate for solutions.
Marvin Shows, a frequent visitor to Parkwood Avenue where his aunt resides, voiced his frustration.
"People throwing it out of their cars. People just throwing anything over here."
Shows believes the trash problem is having a significant impact on the area.
"It just brings the value down tremendously," he says.
Mapping the problem
The City of Columbus uses a color-coded litter map to track the severity of the issue. Parkwood Avenue and its surroundings show a mix of conditions, from areas with little to no litter (marked by blue lines) to extremely littered zones (indicated by red lines).
Jurisdictional challenges
While litter complaints within Columbus city limits are handled by the 311 system, the situation becomes more complicated for areas bordering Mifflin Township. Residents in these border zones must file complaints directly through the township's website, adding an extra layer of complexity to addressing the issue.
Enforcement in action
Mifflin Township is actively tagging homes for litter violations. Abandoned cars in the area have been cited under Ohio's Abatement Control Law. However, Shows believes more needs to be done.
"It's not the fact people aren't complaining, it's the city not responding." Mifflin Township says while it cites owners, those with multiple infractions are sent to Franklin County Environmental Court.
In 2021, Mayor Andrew Ginther requested $16 million from city council for trash pickup and cited Linden as one of several hotspots for illegal dumping. The city said thousands of 300-gallon dumpsters contribute to the problem because they are always out in public view, unlike the 90-gallon trash bins that people usually take inside. People will illegally fill the 300-gallon dumpsters with construction waste, leaving little room for people to put their garbage.
10TV reported the city changed the city code in 2019 to give it the power to go after illegal dumpers. Since then, the city added 26 hidden cameras across the city to catch people in the act.
Township's response
According to Mifflin Township officials, when a property is tagged for violations, the owner has 14 days to address the issue. Failure to comply results in a clean-up bill from the township. If left unpaid, a tax lien is placed against the property.
Community call to action
The sentiment among Linden residents is clear. As Shows puts it, "It definitely needs to be cleaned up around here."
The community is calling for a more robust response from both city and township authorities to address this persistent litter problem.
As this story develops, residents hope their voices will be heard, leading to cleaner streets and a revitalized neighborhood.