Irving council hears push for stepped‑up litter enforcement and a ‘Keep It Clean Irving’ campaign

Deputy Chief James Beyer, who oversees professional standards for the Irving Police Department, told council that complaints about litter from vehicles and unsecured loads have increased and reviewed both state and city offense categories, including transportation of loose materials and illegal dumping. Beyer described a three‑part approach: reinforce patrol observation and stops when officers witness littering or unsecured loads, coordinate public information and signage with code enforcement and communications, and pursue seasonal outreach.

"We would also suggest posting signage at the city dump and distribute pamphlets about how to properly transport trash," Beyer said, urging a unified message across departments about securing loads and voluntary compliance. He noted municipal penalties for littering run from $25 to $500 in Irving, with higher penalties possible for illegal dumping depending on weight and materials.

Code Enforcement Manager Dale Demarest presented the operational side of the "Keep It Clean Irving" initiative. Demarest said the city will divide Irving into eight zones and send a cross‑departmental team (code enforcement, police, municipal drainage and sanitation) to perform one‑day intensive sweeps by zone; the approach prioritizes voluntary compliance with notices of violation first and citations as needed. A schedule and zone map are available at irvingtx.gov/clean, he said.

Members of the Green Advisory Board and public commenters had urged more visible enforcement and suggested adding community service as a penalty; Joshua Burcau (speaking earlier in the public‑comment period) asked council to "give clear direction to Irving Police Department to enforce the laws we have on the books against littering." Council members supported improved messaging and asked staff to explore signage, enforcement costs and whether municipal court sanctions could incorporate community service such as litter pickup.

Staff agreed to follow up with the municipal court on the feasibility of community service as an adjudicated sanction and to coordinate communications and signage. Councilors noted ongoing city spending on litter removal — staff cited roughly $1 million annually for city litter pickup — and pressed for both enforcement and behavioral change through public education.