Nelson García, a resident of Hialeah in Miami-Dade County, has publicly reported the illegal dumping of garbage in some areas of the city, frustrated by the accumulation of waste and the inaction of local authorities.
García recorded a video showcasing the deterioration of his community and shared it on his Instagram account. The report quickly went viral on that social media platform, generating a wave of supportive and concerned comments.
The impact reached the channel Local 10 News, a media outlet that documented firsthand the situation facing this city in Miami-Dade County.
“It has become the new norm. People just come, throw away what they have, and leave. It's disgusting, it's unacceptable”, García denounced.
From appliances and furniture to construction waste, everything ends up piled along the sides of little-used roads.
The young man showed Local 10 the disaster with his own eyes and took journalist Louis Aguirre on a "garbage safari" through the area.
“This is my community”, he insisted.
"I want everyone to see what is happening, and we need to let those responsible know that it is unacceptable," he added.
An expanding illegal dump
The main focus of the problem is located around Northwest 107th Avenue and West 108th Street, at the boundary between Hialeah and Hialeah Gardens.
It is an industrial area, flanked by warehouses and dense vegetation that darkens the area at night, making it a suitable site for illegal dumping.
"Everyone knows this area," García explained.
"They simply come and get rid of the waste, who knows, at 2, 3, or 4 in the morning, when there's no one around, and it’s total chaos."
But the problem is not limited to a specific point. The entire Avenida 107, from Calle 154 in the Northwest to Terraza 114 in the West, shows signs of the same neglect.
In the middle of the public street, one can find an ironic sign that reads: "Warning: Do not litter, offenders will be prosecuted."
A poster that, for the neighbors, has become a mockery in light of the lack of consequences.
"There is no accountability or real consequences," lamented García.
Where are the authorities?
The residents' indignation is understandable, but what do the authorities say?
According to the mentioned media outlet, authorities in Hialeah have declared that they are “aware of the problem” and stated that they are working to address it by increasing police patrols and identifying the most frequent dumping times.
The office of Mayor Jacqueline García-Roves stated in a statement that they have "intensified efforts to combat illegal dumping of garbage in public spaces," and that cleaning operations have been carried out repeatedly.
Additionally, they announced that they are working in coordination with Miami-Dade County on a joint action plan to eradicate the issue.
From the Hialeah Police Department, they also issued a statement acknowledging that "these areas, often dark and with little traffic, especially at night, are unfortunately being exploited."
They assured that they are collaborating with the Environmental Crimes Unit of the county Sheriff's Office, which has made multiple arrests.
Sergeant Christopher García from the Environmental Crimes Unit summed it up succinctly: "I know this area very well. We have arrested easily, I would say, more than 100 people in the last five years, quite easily."
Despite these efforts, the problem persists.
"Why?" "We can't catch them all," the sergeant acknowledged. "We can't be there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (The city of Hialeah) asked us, 'What can we do?' And we told them: listen, the most important thing is to clean it up. They need to clean the entire area."
According to García, the key is to cut off the permissive environment at its roots: “This trash becomes trash. If you leave it there, people will think it's okay.”
Cleaning as a priority... and as a duty
Since most of the affected land is public property, the responsibility for its cleanup falls on the local government.
However, the task is neither easy nor cheap: removing tons of garbage will cost the city thousands of dollars.
García's claim is not just a cry of frustration, but an invitation to action.
"We, the people of Hialeah, know better. We are better than this. Hialeah is a beautiful city. We must preserve it. We need to keep it clean and enforce the rules."
How to report illegal dumping?
The authorities invite citizens to actively participate in reporting these acts.
Environmental complaints can be submitted to the Division of Environmental Resource Management by calling 305-372-6955 (available 24/7), sending an email to environmentalcomplaints@miamidade.gov, or through the online complaint portal of Miami-Dade County.
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