This week, a significant amount of junk was dumped next to the church in Palma de Gandía. The Local Police, which does not operate 24 hours a day, confirmed that the act was deliberate, occurring between the end of their patrol and the residents' report around 2:00 PM.
The City Council reminds that preliminary investigations are essential before removing any illegally dumped material. These investigations help identify potential responsible parties, compile complete police reports, and prevent immediate removal from destroying evidence. They also facilitate coordination with Seprona to strengthen investigations and sanctions.
The council stresses the necessity of citizen collaboration for providing information and following up on cases. During the current term, the Ordinance for Coexistence and Protection of Urban Spaces was approved, reinforcing actions against uncivil acts.
As a recent data point, five sanctioning proceedings were opened on June 16th in a single day for public road dumping, demonstrating the ordinance's effectiveness. The municipal data management system shows no sanctioning proceedings for dumping prior to 2024, indicating a clear shift in addressing uncivil acts, which are now documented, investigated, and sanctioned.
Furthermore, since 2023, efforts have been underway to install cameras in vulnerable areas of Marxuquera to mitigate dumping and reduce associated economic costs. It is also noted that the church area is not the only site affected by uncontrolled dumping; the problem is widespread and requires collective responsibility.
