Six cited for trash dumping in area; West Mahanoy officials discuss trend
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - Trash is seen dumped along Route 924 north of Shenandoah Heights on April 24, 2026.
SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS – Six people were cited after recent dumping on Route 924 and Raven Run Road, both of which have been cleaned up, and township officials are sounding off.
West Mahanoy Township Police Chief Matt Williams and Code Enforcement Officer Matt Kropp said they searched through the trash left behind to find any evidence relating to the culprit.
Three people each were cited for the situations on Route 924 and Raven Run Road.
Vanelzia Andujar, of Shenandoah Heights; Elie Nova, of Shenandoah; and Fiord De Lopez, of Hazleton were cited for Route 924.
Jonathan Santos, Shenandoah; Fasuto Acosta, Hazleton; and Angel Gonzalez, Frackville, were cited for Raven Run Road.
Township Supervisors Chairman Paul “Pepper” Martin told the Sentinel that recent trash dumping along area roads has been the worst he’s seen in 19 years.
“This is ridiculous,” he said.
Williams said he was able to reach one of the six suspects to ask about the situation.
He said that patrols have been beefed up in both areas and Kropp said the suspects will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
In many situations locally, Martin said residents have hired disreputable private trash haulers instead of paying for municipal trash pickup.
Those private haulers often take the resident’s trash and money. They then dump the trash on the side of the highway, in a ditch or elsewhere rather than taking it to the North Schuylkill Transfer Station or another appropriate place.
Kropp said that the rates at the transfer station — once $88/ton charged at a minimum of one ton — have been lowered by nearly half.
Martin suggests that, if residents insist on using a private hauler, make sure to get their name, phone number, and insurance information. Additionally, residents should pay half up front and withhold half until proof of proper disposal is provided.
Additionally, if residents see something suspicious, township officials want to hear about it.
Trash dumping has been on the rise regionally, with incidents reported in the Saint Clair area and along Snake Road near Ashland.
Main Township Police in Columbia County say they’ve been dealing with similar issues and, in an instance on Mountain Road, charges are pending against those responsible.
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