(La Porte, IN) - La Porte residents are being asked to cooperate with the city’s dumpster program.

 

Two dumpsters were set out late week for people to dispose of unwanted items such as

old furniture as part of the ongoing effort to clean up the city.  Once the dumpsters were full, though, people created a mess by placing their junk outside the dumpsters.

 

La Porte Code Enforcement Director Jeff Batchelor is asking people to come back with their

unwanted items once the dumpsters have been emptied so there’s room in the dumpsters to dispose of their trash.  Batchelor said materials placed outside the dumpsters create an eyesore and force city employees to spend a few hours cleaning up after people.  He said there’s also a cost because the city pays a disposal charge for each load.

 

Batchelor said the program is funded with a $50,000 grant for the city’s Urban Enterprise Association and he doesn’t want the funds to run out before the end of summer.  “The last thing I want to do is start fining people. Show a little respect and everybody wins,” he said.

 

The dumpsters are across the street from the Water Department and at the Street Department.  Batchelor said one of the dumpsters has a video camera nearby to catch violators.