Washington, DC — A DC neighborhood commissioner says it’s time to clean up the crime in the streets, and time to clean up the community. Salim Adofo has been documenting illegal dumping and piles of trash, he has seen in the District.

“People are less likely to commit some of the crimes they do because the community can be cleaner. The lights can be working and some all of those things add to a healthier community. It’s not the only solution but it does play a part,” said Adofo.

He showed 7News a pile of garbage in and around a private dumpster, near 1900 block of 19th Place SE. It is an eyesore that DC resident pass by every day.

“Terrible,” said Ronald Stewart, who was driving by. “It’s a sad commentary for the District to have all this all this equipment and see trash like that.”

Adofo has had some success, calling the Department of Public Works and the Department of Buildings. He posted an illegal dumping on 4th Street, which was cleaned up, the same morning.

But for the private dumpster, 7News reached out the owner, who told us, it’s an ongoing problem. “Impossible to control,” he said, because of neighbors who dump trash there. “We can have it cleaned up .. within in a day, it’s all trash again.”

Adofo shared several pictures of his work, which he posts to social media.

“I think people think they can treat our community any kind of way. They think because it is Ward 8, a predominately African-American community, that nobody cares about it. That is not true,” said Adofo.

He says ultimately, it is up to residents to keep their community clean. The Department of Public Works has SWEEP inspectors who drive down DC streets, looking for violations. If you see a problem, call 311 to report it, for a clean up. You can also find out more information here.