Newark man pleads guilty to illegal dumping in New Castle County

NEWARK – Following an investigation into a recent complaint made at the state-maintained Polly Drummond Hill Road yard waste site in Newark, Delaware Natural Resources Police with DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit arrested a Newark man Aug. 15 for illegal dumping of refuse.

Jonathan D. Kirk, 37, was charged with one count of cause or contributing to the disposal or discharge of solid waste materials. The charge carries a minimum fine of $500. Kirk was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 in New Castle, where he pleaded guilty.

The Polly Drummond Hill Road yard waste site allows Delaware residents to drop off yard waste at the site from their own residence during scheduled hours. Commercial businesses are barred from dropping off yard waste at the site. Yard waste consists of plant materials from lawn maintenance and landscaping activities such as grass clippings, leaves, brush, shrubs, garden materials, Christmas trees and tree limbs up to four inches in diameter. It is against the law to dump lumber and fencing at the site.

Residents are encouraged to report illegal trash dumping to DNREC’s Delaware Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit by calling the toll-free 24-hour environmental complaints hotline at 800-662-8802.

Vol. 48, No. 225

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

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