WINDSOR TOWNSHIP - Both citizens and trustees in Windsor Township are fed up with illegal dumping - and now they are fighting back.

The Windsor Trustees recently began placing signs across the township in an effort to deter would-be offenders from leaving their trash along the scenic roadways.

"It's tough to stop them," trustee Donnie Rigney said. "The signs will give them a warning."

Rigney said that it is hard to enforce the $500 fine for dumping, unless you are able to catch them in the act - which, he said, is a full time job. The trustees were advised by the prosecutor that it is easier to prosecute illegal dumping if a sign is present.

He said that tires were a big issue that was becoming a problem, especially along dead end roads and township roads that do not have houses on them.

"The less populated areas are bad," he said. "It's hard on rural roads, they like to dump there and the only thing you can do is go through the trash and look for a name."

And that is exactly what they do.

Rigney said that they caught a man back in the winter, and he came back in and cleaned up the mess he had made. That is another problem trustees face; they also must have a name and address of the person who is dumping the trash.

"It's going to get tougher on people," Rigney said. "More people are getting involved."

Residents are joining in the effort to prevent illegal dumping. Rigney said that one reason may be due to the fact that if someone dumps illegally on your property, it is the property owner's responsibility to have it cleaned up.

"No one likes to get dumped on," he said.