Washes away a washing machine and other waste in the middle of the street in Arrecife

The specialized agents of the Unit for Environment and Solid Waste of the Local Police of Arrecife have identified two people who dumped a washing machine and other waste next to a container on Tajaraste street.

The councilor for Cleaning of the capital, Jacobo Lemes, has publicly praised the citizen collaboration that has allowed the case to be detected and the work of the agents. Specifically, a neighbor witnessed how two people got rid of a washing machine and other waste, leaving them dumped next to a container.

Faced with what was happening, the citizen decided to record the scene and subsequently made the video available to the Unit for Environment and Solid Waste of the Local Police, also providing the approximate time frame in which the dumping occurred.

Based on this information, the agents initiated the corresponding procedures to identify those responsible. The specific point where the waste was abandoned does not have video surveillance cameras, so the investigation relied on images captured by municipal cameras located in other parts of the surrounding area and on the time frame provided by the citizen.

The work of the agents made it possible to identify the vehicle used to transport the waste and continue with the necessary procedures until the two responsible persons were located. Both are residents of the municipality of Arrecife and will be proposed for sanction for non-compliance with the Municipal Ordinance on Cleaning and Sustainability.

“I want to especially thank the attitude of this neighbor, who decided not to look the other way, recorded what was happening and brought the images to the attention of the Local Police. That collaboration has been fundamental to being able to start the investigation,” says Jacobo Lemes.

The councilor also highlighted the work carried out by the Unit for Environment and Solid Waste of the Local Police, whose agents carried out the necessary checks until they managed to identify those responsible.

Identified despite not having surveillance cameras at the location

“This action demonstrates the important work our specialized agents carry out. It is not always as simple as having a camera right in front of the place where dumping occurs. In this case, there wasn't one, but we had information from a neighbor, analyzed available images in the area, and took the necessary steps to reach those responsible. That work is fundamental,” explains Lemes.

The head of Cleaning insists that citizen collaboration constitutes an essential tool to combat the abandonment of waste in the streets of Arrecife.

“We need neighbors to continue helping us detect these behaviors. When someone reports, provides images, or facilitates data that can help identify those responsible, they are directly collaborating in the care of our city,” he adds.

The Department of Cleaning reminds that belongings and waste cannot be abandoned in the public street next to the containers, but rather the channels established by the City Council must be used for their correct removal and management.