Sites&Sounds

Trash feeds rats from Dupont Circle to Shaw ... and beyond

At the Dupont Circle Citizens Association (DCCA) meeting Monday night, the Environmental Committee handed out a friendly reminder that the Department of Health and Department of Public Works are concerned about rat infestations across the District. They offered a few tips of advice for everyone to do their part to minimize the problem and avoid the $75 fines (per offense) that are being handed out.

Trash should be disposed of in appropriate containers with tightly fitting lids for the District to pick up. It should not be left outdoors or curb side simply in plastic bags. Home owners receiving regularly scheduled trash pickups by DPW, who don't have an official District trash container, can call 311 to arrange to have one delivered.

The alley behind Kelsey Gardens, off the 1500 block of 7th Street NW, is the site of frequent illegal dumping where rats have apparently "been having a picnic" among other problems the trash attracts. The developer that now owns the Kelsey Gardens property has agreed to be more vigilant in cleaning up the site.