Annual Jeep Clean Up

The Annual Jeep Clean Up was held Sunday.  About 300 people showed up in almost 150 vehicles from at least four counties.  They came together to clean up the Pinelands of Wharton State Forest.

They filled dumpsters with beds, army uniforms, a couch, projection TV, toilet, construction debris and all kinds of trash that was everywhere.  There were bags of roofing shingles that took 14 people four hours to load.

Austin Caracciolo, who lives in Mullica Township, is a veteran volunteer who has been helping the last 6 years.   Wearing his "Piney Power" T - Shirt, he worked all morning loading six pick- up trucks with illegally dumped old tires.

The volunteers are treated to free wings at an after party hosted by Shamong's Pic-A-Lilli Inn.

A lot of these volunteers also bring nice, new toys with them to donate to the United Methodist Church in Mullica Township, to go to needy kids at Christmas.

Please help protect the Pinelands.
Report any suspected illegal dumping to the State Department of Environmental Protection's tip line
                                1-877 WARN DEP      1-877- 927 - 6337

Don't put yourself in harm's way, but try to get a tag number and vehicle description so the Department can follow up your tip.

Read entire article at:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/wheelers-aid-annual-cleanup-of-debris-dumped-in-pinelands/article_8c315594-43b0-521d-9cc9-b1b1855ec039.html

UPDATE  DECEMBER 17, 2013

Now it has been reported that Selvin Lima, 31, of Trenton was recently arrested on charges that he dumped the truckload of shingles and other debris.   Lima faces a fine of as much as $10,000 for illegal dumping of solid waste, a second degree criminal charge.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/hammonton_egg-harbor-city/state-park-police-crack-down-on-illegal-dumping/article_72022e10-6611-11e3-b9b7-0019bb2963f4.html