Verona man latest to be charged with illegal dumping in Penn Hills

Tabor is one of five men Penn Hills has charged for illegal dumping within the municipality after launching an aggressive program in 2019. The program included the deployment of eight hidden cameras placed at popular dump sites, signs that warn cameras are in use, and a cleanup of Ross Street Park. If sentenced, offenders can face a $2,000 fine and cleanup costs.

Tabor was not immediately available for comment.

So far, Penn Hills has not received any restitution, according to court records.

Aaron Evans, 35, was levied a $4,800 fine for dumping furniture and debris in August after District Judge Anthony Deluca found him guilty at a summary trial. Evans appealed the decision and died in October before a date for the appeal was heard.

Laron Howard, 19, and Laquon Perkins, 18, both of Swissvale, face a jury trial in November for homicide, burglary, robbery and criminal conspiracy charges related to Evans’ death.

Court records show summons filed against three others charged with illegal dumping in Penn Hills were never claimed or were not able to be delivered.

Andrejchak has said illegal dumping in Penn Hills costs taxpayers anywhere from $325,000 to $500,000 annually. He said the estimate includes using up to 20 dumpsters to get rid of the trash. Public Works Superintendent Scott Shepard said Republic Services, the municipality’s trash collector, allows Penn Hills five free dumpsters a year. Each additional dumpster costs $500.

Shepard said the municipality has already exceeded its dumpster allowance this year.

Andrejchak said “residents can put unlimited household items at the curb for collection.” He said the refuse contract allows Penn Hills residents to leave tires at the curb.

A year into the aggressive anti-dumping program, Andrejchak is hopeful it will lead to cleaner streets and neighborhoods.

“But people just need to be patient with us,” he said. “I mean, we’re partly trying to change human behavior. Obviously, that’s difficult.”

The program has already led to the cleaning of Ross Street Park and Beechford Road, two prominent illegal dump sites in the municipality’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Andrejchak said.

“The program will continue as long as it takes for people to get the message that we will not tolerate dumping in Penn Hills,” the manager said. “Our code enforcement office has more cameras in more locations and Penn Hills is totally committed to ending this problem.”