Booker pulled over, slipped on a pair of gloves and ripped open one of the bags. He fished for an envelope, a receipt or a catalog - anything to suggest the identity of the person who left the garbage on the corner. They found hair clippings. Looking around, Booker quickly spotted a nearby hair salon.
Bingo. It wasn't enough to issue a citation, but he plans to set up a sting later to watch for illegal dumping.
But then that softer side reappeared. He overlooked residents who had their garbage in metal cans without lids. "They are trying," Booker said.
Moving on, Booker and Rivers picked through another pile of garbage, in the middle of a sidewalk. Booker pointed out holes in the bag where rats had nibbled through the plastic looking for food. "Totally unacceptable," he said.
This time the apparent offender left mail in the garbage, but used blue magic marker to block out the address. And there were shredded documents, but the inspectors still tried to piece together the papers for an intact address.
Booker said those cited once tend to leave less evidence the next time. But his crews sometimes will use their unmarked personal cars to stake out problem areas, snap photos and then send citations. The pair pushed on to the next pile of refuse. "This one slipped up," Booker said after spotting an envelope with a name: Selena Redd on Spring Street. Back at the office, Booker's staff sent a citation to Redd for depositing trash on a sidewalk. It carries a $50 fine.
Changes to city trash collection
* New garbage collection schedule to start July 14
* Trash will be collected one day, recycling will be a different day
* City will enforce rules that all trash must be in cans with tightly fitting lids
* Residents can put out cans 6 p.m. the night before collection day
* Trash volume will be limited to 96 gallons; recycling volume is unlimited
* City will hire 20 new code enforcement officers to write citations
