On Wednesday the National District’s (DN) government launched a campaign to stop the growing practice of dumping trash in large heaps on the city’s thoroughfares. The DN put citizens on notice that the Municipal Police will arrest anyone caught dumping trash bags or masses of loose trash on city streets. Arrests were started on Wednesday at Avenida Francisco del Rosario S?nchez in Santo Domingo’s Los Grandules barrio. Six "tricyclists" (men who ride three-wheeled bikes that carry cargo) and two light truck drivers were arrested. The DN will conduct unannounced checks of other known street dump spots across the city. The city government has also arranged with Dixi Sanitary Services, the principal firm contracted to collect the District’s trash, to place large trash collection bins ("dumpsters") in such spots in the barrios of Los Grandules, Guachupita and La Zurza, to give residents a better place to deposit their trash. Similar street dumpsters are contemplated for other problem barrio spots across the city. Dixi has committed to regularly emptying the dumpsters.Mayor Juan de Dios ("Johnny") Ventura has repeatedly said that garbage is Santo Domingo’s "biggest headache" and that he intends to resolve the problem during his term of office. He recently published a draft city regulation that would significantly raise the fines for littering and dumping trash on thoroughfares (up to RD$50,000).
