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‘Really bad’: Quintana Road identified as one of the most severe illegal dumping sites in San Antonio

The city says its crews clean the street weekly due to the illegal dumping issues

SAN ANTONIO – As soon as Patrick Garcia pulls onto his street, the smell of trash consumes his car.

“It’s bad,” Garcia said. “It’s really bad.”

He owns property on Quintana Road, and the sidewalks around his lot are usually buried under debris.

“I spend time sweeping the street myself,” Garcia said. “It’s costing me money.”

A sign reads “No Dumping” on Garcia’s property, but it is covered by graffiti and overgrown branches. Garcia said it is the only warning label seen on the street.

>> What happens to junk dumped along San Antonio roads? KSAT Explains

The city has identified Quintana Road as a major illegal dumping site in San Antonio. Each week, crews from the city’s Solid Waste Management Department clear the street of trash.

Neighbors said the problem has persisted for years. More recently, the illegal dumping has gotten worse.

“I’ve lived here all my life,” said Angelita Olvera, president of the Keep South San Proud Neighborhood Association. “We’re tired of this.”

The city said it cleans Quintana Road weekly because of the chronic problem. (KSAT 12 News)

The Solid Waste Management Department said it struggles to enforce local illegal dumping laws because doing so requires crews to catch offenders in the act.

Solid Waste confirmed Quintana Road is one of the areas where the department has worked with San Antonio police to conduct several surveillance efforts. So far, at least one arrest has been made in this effort.

>> ‘Downright ugly’: City and neighbors push for an end to illegal dumping in San Antonio

With the new budget cycle, city officials said they are looking at options for new signage and surveillance.

Garcia said a solution cannot come soon enough.

“If this is one of the worst dumping sites, put lights out,” Garcia said. “And the city has resources to put cameras, and I think that would put a big stop to this mess.”

For more information on the city’s budget cycle push, click here.

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About the Authors
Avery Everett headshot

Avery Everett is a news reporter and multimedia journalist at KSAT 12 News. Avery is a Philadelphia native. If she’s not at the station, she’s either on a hiking or biking trail. A lover of charcuterie boards and chocolate chip cookies, Avery’s also looking forward to eating her way through San Antonio, one taco shop at a time!

Sal Salazar headshot

Sal Salazar is a photojournalist at KSAT 12. Before coming to KSAT in 1998, he worked at the Fox affiliate in San Antonio. Sal started off his career back in 1995 for the ABC Affiliate in Lubbock and has covered many high-profile news events since. In his free time, he enjoys spending time at home, gaming and loves traveling with his wife.

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