Illegal Dumping Near Assenede Police Station Sparks Outrage

For the second time in two weeks, unidentified individuals have illegally dumped household waste near the police station in Assenede, Belgium, a situation the mayor describes as "very annoying."

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The location of this illegal dumping is, to say the least, very ironic.

Approximately five to six black garbage bags were left against the side wall of the police station on the market square. While the latest dump was collected and is under investigation, a previous instance yielded no leads to identify the perpetrators. The municipality is treating each illegal dumping incident seriously, aiming to identify offenders and issue fines, but acknowledges the difficulty in tracing those responsible.

Opposition party Vlaams Belang has criticized the perceived impunity for illegal dumpers, with faction leader Stijn Van Hamme calling the chances of being caught "non-existent." He noted the "very ironic" location of the latest dumping incident. To prevent recurrence, the municipality has requested waste intermunicipal company IVM to temporarily install cameras in the area, a measure Assenede has used before in other locations prone to illegal dumping, such as around glass collection points.

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We have asked IVM to install some cameras there, so that the perpetrator does not commit illegal dumping in that place again.

Mayor Trees Van Eykeren expressed hope for increased social control in the area, lamenting that this specific incident "just escaped" detection. The police station itself does not have permanent cameras that could have recorded the offense.

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We would hope that there is also some social control there, but this illegal dumping just escaped it.