People Dumping At Darien Veterans Donation Site: Official

DARIEN, IL — A veterans group that collects donations in Darien is routinely getting something it doesn't want — grass clippings.

This week, Darien Alderman Eric Gustafson told the City Council he learned about the problem recently. The drop-off site is in the Walmart parking lot, where people can donate household goods and clothing. It is for AMVETS, a nationwide group that helps veterans.

"My wife and I were walking by the AMVETS at the Walmart parking lot this past Sunday, and we were talking to the lot person who said they are getting people dumping bags of grass clippings at the AMVETS," he said.

Gustafason described it as a nuisance, saying he wanted to see what the city could do to help AMVETS.

"There were eight bags this Saturday night that got dropped off," Gustafson said. "Unfortunately what (AMVETS is) doing is ripping the bags open and dumping it all into the wetland, which I told them can't be done either."

He wondered what the penalties for dumping at the AMVETs site are.

Police Chief Greg Thomas said the penalties would depend on whether it's a violation of a local ordinance or the state criminal code.

Gustafson said catching the violators would be good.

"Maybe that's what it will take to stop this nonsense, and maybe it's a camera that we'll have to look into," he said.

A representative in the state AMVETS office said the group planned to comment on the issue next week.