CAPE CORAL, Fla-- Empty paint cans, shoes, even a mattress and TV sit in piles along a vacant area of NE Cape Coral. Residents living nearby are turning to 4 In Your Corner pleading to have something done about the illegal dumping happening at the roundabout off of De Navarra Pkwy and Playa Del Sol Blvd.
"It's like the people say,'oh we have a place that we can drop off all the garbage' so they come here," said Cape Coral resident Yolanda Arroyo.
Except the spot where the dumping is taking place isn't a legal dumping place. In fact, a sign just a couple hundred feet in front of the piles shows it's illegal.
"I'm really concerned and it's really worrying for me because I don't like that people see this, Cape Coral is not like this," said Arroyo.
Neighbors tell 4 In Your Corner the dumping began shortly after Hurricane Irma. It started with a few small piles of storm debris. 7 months later, the trash has only gotten worse.
"It's disgusting, it's not acceptable," said Arroyo.
Personal mail tracing back to homes in Fort Myers are scattered next to toys and trash bags full of clothes.
4 In Your Corner reached out to the Lee County Sheriff's Office to find out what, if anything is being done.
A public information officer said sheriff's deputies are actively patrolling the area and urge you to report any suspicious activity immediately.
Florida litter laws show if you are caught you can face anything from fines and community service, even jail time depending on if you are using a commercial vehicle to do so.
4 In Your Corner also reached out to Lee County to find out if it's going to be removed. A spokesperson said they are working to determine if it's on county property and if so will have it removed. Otherwise if it's on private property, they can cite the owner and ask them to have it removed.
