Before volunteers stepped in, Texas' Bexar County had been told that cleaning up an illegally dumped half-acre property in the northeast part of the county could cost taxpayers $100,000.
To prevent residents from footing this bill, River Aid San Antonio tackled the site through four cleanup events. According to KSAT, about 170 volunteers removed 43,000 pounds of trash.
Here's what to know
The work focused on a property near 7715 Elm Cove Drive outside Converse, Texas. Dumped waste had reportedly built up for years beside a neighborhood.
River Aid San Antonio volunteers said the debris included mattresses and other oversized discarded items.
Vic Gomez, operations manager for River Aid San Antonio, said the scene was overwhelming when volunteers first arrived.
"When we first came here, we were walking through a lasagna layer of garbage that had accumulated over several years," Gomez explained to KSAT.
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Libby Day, chief of staff for Bexar County Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert, said paying the original cleanup estimate would have been pretty steep. It would have used more than half of the county's abatement budget.
More background
"This was formerly an encampment for folks who were suffering from homelessness," Day told KSAT. "And one of the challenges with this site was the county was unable to get in contact with the property owner."
Day further explained that, before enforcement began, the county worked with Haven for Hope to provide resources for the people staying on the property. Beds were available at Haven for Hope for those who wanted to go there.
What's being done?
River Aid San Antonio has also planned one last cleanup event from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 7. Volunteers will gather at 7715 Elm Cove Drive.
"We've had a good handful of the neighbors come out to help us clean, and I think they're very excited to help us make that difference," Gomez said.
Where can I learn more?
The Bexar County cleanup is just one of many examples of how communities can tackle trash and plastic pollution together.
• Volunteers are using an innovative river barrier to stop plastic before it reaches the ocean.
• In Thailand, The Ocean Cleanup launched a plastic interceptor to catch thousands of river-borne scraps.
• Communities are finding that curbside recycling programs can save money, but recycling alone is not enough.
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