Keep Manatee Beautiful removes more than 32 tons of illegally dumped debris in six months

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - From discarded tires to mattresses abandoned in a road median, Keep Manatee Beautiful is tackling illegal dumping through a program designed to get debris cleared quickly.In its first six months, the nonprofit’s Illegal Dumping Rapid Response Program removed 64,580 pounds of debris, more than 32 tons, and made 107 trips to the landfill.Jennifer Hoffman, executive director of Keep Manatee Beautiful, discussed the effort during interviews on ABC7 News at Noon and 1 p.m.“32 tons is just shy of 65,000 pounds of trash in six months collected by two men, a truck, and a trailer,” Hoffman said.The program aims to assess reported dumping sites within 48 hours. When the two-person crew can safely handle the cleanup with its truck, trailer and equipment, removal often happens immediately.Crews identify debris while driving through the county and receive referrals from Code Enforcement, the Sheriff’s Office, police officers and other county partners.“We have a record