JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If someone is dumping trash on your property, Jacksonville’s top blight official says the first call you make should be to the police — because what’s happening is a crime.
News4JAX anchor Jenese Harris sat down with Albert J. Ferraro, the city’s Blight Initiative Manager, one day after two brothers on Melba Street went public about a garbage battle with neighbors they say have been dumping on their land since January 2025.
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“If somebody has anything dumped on their property, they should at least first reach out to the sheriff’s office because a crime is being committed,” Ferraro said.
The Watson brothers filed a complaint in November 2025, but were still fined more than $7,000 through a nuisance lien. According to the brothers, the city told them there was no way to prove who was responsible — but the trash still had to be cleaned up. They say they hope the fine will be removed.
A city email from March 6 detailed just how serious the situation had become at the neighboring property on Chestnut Street. The email read in part, “I have received more than five calls and emails about this location since 10:00 AM.”
The email also noted that 620 Chestnut St. had been preparing for a site clearance contractor, but that process stalled after ownership changed, and the property was placed under an estate following an earlier citation issued in 2025.
For anyone dealing with a similar situation, Ferraro outlined several steps residents can take:
- Call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Illegal dumping is a criminal offense.
- Call 630-CITY or use the myJax app to report the issue to the city.
- Document what you see. If someone is dumping, try to get the license plate number or the name of the company involved.
- Know your rights of way. If the city spots trash in a public right of way, it will be picked up.
Ferraro also said the city is preparing to install surveillance cameras to catch illegal dumpers in the act.
“We are going to be putting out the cameras — we purchased them — and we are going to start hopefully catching some of these people who are doing illegal dumping,” he said.
And the consequences for those caught could be severe.
“If somebody is illegally dumping on your property, then it needs to be handled as a crime,” Ferraro said.
The Watson brothers say they plan to fight their case.