VINELAND — City Mayor Anthony Fanucci has grown tired of the illegal dumping practices in the area.

The city has done its best to crack down on the methods, but resources are limited.

Now, thanks to community feedback from listening sessions, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has launched a new initiative to support municipalities in combating illegal dumping, according to acting Commissioner Shawn LaTourette.

Through this new initiative, DEP will help increase local capacity to combat illegal dumping by loaning deterrence equipment to participating towns and providing training and support to aid local officials in enforcing civil and criminal environmental laws.

"We are pleased to be selected to participate in the IDP-CAD project," Fanucci said. "Illegal dumping pollutes our environment, drives down property values, and costs taxpayers money each year through cleanup, monitoring and enforcement actions. Vineland Code Enforcement Officers are constantly checking known and suspected dump sites and working with municipal prosecutors in order to punish offenders. However, our resources are limited. Additional support through the IDP-CAD Program will help us to reduce incidences of illegal dumping throughout the city.”

The project will take place over 10 months and will be facilitated by DEP with assistance from the Attorney General’s office. The DEP will procure and provide the equipment, bring partners together for broad training on implementing an illegal dumping program at the local level, as well as impart strategies for deterring illegal dumping.

Salem will also be participating in the initial launch. For more information on reporting cases of illegal dumping visit www.stopdumping.nj.gov