Clean-Up Comes to Carrick

More than 100 volunteers are expected to descend on Carrick Saturday in the hopes of curtailing dumping in the Pittsburgh neighborhood. “Carrick is actually the most dumped on city neighborhood and one of the most dumped on areas in the entire region,” says Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak. “There has been a survey where an estimated over 100 tons of trash are scattered throughout Carrick.”

Rudiak says the number two neighborhood has about 40 tons of trash. Volunteers will gather at 9:30am at the corner of Sprucewood and Alplaus before heading out for a day of hauling out trash from dozens of hillsides, forests and ravines. “Tires and refrigerators and mufflers and construction materials… it’s a real problem,” says Rudiak. She says anyone can join in the effort.

Cleaning the community is only the first step. Rudiak says she will be meeting with Allegheny CleanWays to come up with a plan to put an end to the dumping. “We are trying to change the perception of the land. These are places to be enjoyed, these are places of nature rather than a place for someone to come in at 3 a.m. and dump all of their construction debris.” Rudiak says when you see the trash it is an “invitation for decline.” Rudiak says it is hard to prosecute dumpers because you need to catch them in the act. She is calling on residents to call 911, write down licenses plates and even take pictures when they see dumping.