Camden City Mayor Vic Carstarphen and Councilwoman Jannette Ramos. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
Camden City is rolling out a new program that local leaders hope will incentivize residents to keep an eye out for illegal dumping with cash rewards.
City ordinances currently penalize illegal disposal of solid waste with fines of $5,000 for a first-offense conviction, $10,000 for a second, and $20,000 each violation thereafter.
The statute notes that “Each day during which the violation continues constitutes an additional, separate, and distinct offense.”
Tipsters whose information leads to a conviction of illegal dumping can be rewarded with $500 for an incident involving solid waste and $1,000 for one involving toxic waste.
The ordinance, which was passed June 11, complements police powers to seize private vehicles of convicted dumpers, and to seek civil forfeiture and business penalties for those involved.
Camden City Mayor Victor Carstarphen hopes the program will spur the community to “be involved” in helping to curtail some 40 tons of illegal dumping that costs the city about $5 million annually to clean up.
Public Works crews can spend hours hauling away truckloads of debris, costing the city money and diverting its resources away from other tasks. In one incident, they were left to clean up 300 tires, police said.
“We want attention to this,” Carstarphen said. “We want people to hear about this; want them to have second thoughts.
“We want them to start to understand the seriousness with which we’re attacking this.”
Camden City Fourth Ward Councilwoman Jannette Ramos called illegal dumping “one of the most pressing issues we face,” in the community.
“This is not just an eyesore,” Ramos said. “It undermines the pride we have in our community. This is not the Camden we want for ourselves, our children, or future generations.”
As much as officials hope that the campaign yields results, Ramos stressed that the object of the rewards program isn’t only enforcement, but community education on where to properly dispose of waste, and how to address illegal behavior that blights neighborhoods.
“This is not about punishing people, it’s about holding them accountable,” the councilwoman said. “Enforcement is only part of the solution. We must educate our community. We deserve a better quality of life.”
Residents who aren’t sure where to dispose of bulk waste items can call 856-757-7139 to find out where to bring their trash, Ramos said.
Camden City illegal dumping reward ordinance. Credit: NJPEN.
Locals have been informed about the new paid tip incentive for the last several months; “Outsiders, they’re about to find out,” she said.
Since November 2023, Camden County Police have investigated 23 incidents, charged 12 suspects, and seized one vehicle in connection with illegal dumping in the city.
Among them was Ron Odom of Delran, who in December 2023 was charged with three counts of unloading garbage in Whitman Square Park from a rented Home Depot cargo truck.
Camden City resident Edward Hoke was arrested just two months later and charged with dumping construction debris from his demolition work in Pyne Point. In addition, police made applications to seize Hoke’s vehicle as a civil forfeiture, alleging that it was sporting fictitious plates at the time of the incident.
Camden County Police Lt. Gordon Harvey said detectives visit known dumping grounds daily to investigate potential concerns there. However, the biggest challenge for police is managing the areas “where we don’t have assets, don’t have cameras, off the beaten path.”
The department employs a part-time detective, a retired Camden County Police officer with 25 years of investigative experience in the city, dedicated to investigating these crimes.
Elected officials look on as Camden County Police Lt. Gordon Harvey reviews footage of illegal dumping. Credit: Avi Steinhardt for Camden County.
It also leverages its “Eye in the Sky” camera banks, a network of 120 high-definition cameras that police leverage to investigate all manner of criminal activity.
Purchased with a half-million-dollar federal grant in 2022, the technology has all 16 Camden City neighborhoods blanketed.
Some of the cameras are housed in multisensory banks of four, offering 360-degree views.
Others have pan and tilt zooms that can capture high-quality images from blocks away.
Some cameras are connected to automatic license plate readers, and livestream from various locations in the city that static image cameras could only photograph. Still others can change locations up to multiple times per day if needed.
“The biggest limiting factor is information,” Harvey said.
Camden City residents who believe they’ve witnessed illegal dumping can notify police via the STOP IT app, or by calling the department tip line (856-757-7402), which is staffed 24 hours a day.
