Several City of Dallas departments are attempting to address litter removal in open spaces and waterways, the City announced last week.
The efforts will focus on litter removal “inside creeks and channels as well as large-scale cleanups within public and private properties that are outside of routine maintenance,” per a City of Dallas news release.
The collaboration includes Dallas Water Utilities, Code Compliance, Park and Recreation, the Office of Homeless Solutions, the City Marshals Office, the Dallas Police Department, and others.
The group “recently conducted research to address stream trash prevention and collection. The team met regularly to identify, evaluate, and recommend technologies to reduce stream pollution based on location, stream size, outfalls operational access, and volume of observed floatable trash,” per the release.
The team considered technologies to assist in reducing the litter entering the waterways, including Litter Booms, Litter Gitters, Bio Clean Automatic Retractable, Bio Clean Catch Basin, Bio Clean Connector Pipe Screen, Coanda Curb Inlet, and Storm Trap Trash Removal. After review, the team agreed to use Litter Boom devices as they were the most cost-effective and operation-friendly technology, and they “support our efforts to proactively inspect and remove blockages in our storm drains and public creeks,” the press release reads.
The next step is to identify additional stream locations for pilot opportunities and to purchase more Litter Boom devices when funds become available in the fiscal year 2024-25.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the City of Dallas removed “13,520 cubic yards of debris and floatables from gravity storm sewers, pressure sewers, levee maintenance, sump cleaning, trash racks, retention/detention basins, and creek maintenance.”
The city maintains 30 miles of levees and over 1,800 miles of storm drainage pipelines, which undergo regular inspections, cleaning, repair, and emergency response.
Littering and illegal trash dumping can result in debris that ends up in city waterways. Anyone who sees illegal dumping is encouraged to report it by calling 311.
“It is important that we all work together as a community to keep our city clean,” the press release reads.
In a 2023 satisfaction survey, many Dallas residents expressed the belief that the City should do a better job of keeping the city clean, as The Dallas Express reported. The survey found that 44% of respondents said the City does a “poor” job of maintaining the streets, whereas only 4% felt the City does an “excellent” job.