City of Gulfport fighting litter issues

ROY HOWARD COMMUNITY JOURNALISM CENTER- Gulfport is rolling out new “$1,000 No Dumping” signs and asking residents to report violators.

It’s part of a renewed push to tackle litter.

Makiya Jackson with the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center shows us what locals and city leaders say it will take to clean up the Coast.

Litter like this isn’t an uncommon sight in Gulfport.

Residents like Leslie Escalante say it’s become part of the city’s landscape, and they’re tired of it. “It’s an everyday thing. Like where I turn. It’s like always there. It’s really sad.”

A feeling shared by Gulfport Mayor Hugh Keating — who says the city *can* and *should* do better. “We can do so much better. There are areas where we are doing a lot better. There are areas that need vast improvement.”

Keating says part of that improvement includes new “No Dumping” signs — warning residents they could face a thousand-dollar fine for littering or illegal dumping. “You might have seen some signs going up — ‘$1,000 Fine, No Dumping.’  We’re going to be more aggressive about it.”

A 2023 citywide survey found nearly everyone thinks litter hurts Gulfport’s image and lowers property values. Janiya Davis says it changes outsiders’ views of the community and could prompt people to go elsewhere. “They look at us like we’re nasty.”

City officials say enforcement only goes so far.

Real change, resident Landon Greenlee says, depends on people taking pride in where they live. “If you see something on the ground, even though if you didn’t do it, you know, just take initiative to be, ‘hey, let me pick this up and throw it away.’

And if you see someone littering, Keating says, speak up and report it.  “I think we as a community can all do a better job of trying to document and report instances of littering and dumping.”

To report a litter violation, call 311 for cleanup. If you have photo or video of someone littering, call the police department’s non-emergency line at 228-868-5959.