Northeast Houston illegal dumping continues despite cleanup efforts, residents say

HOUSTON - Residents of a Northeast Houston neighborhood continue to grapple with piles of trash and tires littering their streets nearly two years after the issue first gained public attention. Parkhurst Street between Way and Homewood remains a hotspot for illegal dumping despite city initiatives aimed at addressing the problem.

Pastor M.D. Morrison Sr., a local resident, expressed frustration with the lack of progress - similar to what he told us in 2023. 

"Why is North Wayside not deserving of proper city maintenance? How are our tax dollars different than any tax dollars in the city?" he asked.

Illegal dumping remains an issue in Northeast Houston. 

Weeks after FOX 26 reported on the issue, the City of Houston announced the $18 million "One Clean Houston" initiative under then-Mayor Sylvester Turner. The program aimed to bolster rapid cleanup efforts and enhance enforcement against illegal dumping. Pastor Morrison, however, said the results have been underwhelming for his area. 

"It was well-intentioned. The follow-through has left a lot to be desired," Morrison said.

Constable Alan Rosen's office has also worked to combat illegal dumping. He tells FOX 26 over 150 surveillance cameras have been installed to catch violators. 

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"We've had our cameras up for quite a while, and we continue to add more because, unfortunately, illegal dumping is not going away," Rosen said. He encouraged residents to report incidents and, if safe, capture photos of license plates to aid investigations. 

"It hurts properly values. The sad state is people dump within five miles of where they live. There's free places where you can dump your stuff," said Rosen.

While current Mayor John Whitmire's office reports additional resources have been allocated to address the issue, residents like Morrison remain skeptical.

"With our area being the house on fire, we would think that the water would come here first, and if not first, a close second. However, it has not happened," he said.

If you spot an area in your neighborhood that's being used as an illegal dumping site, call Precinct 1 at 713-755-5200 or call 311 and report it. You can also find legal dumping sites by visiting the City of Houston's solid waste site.