MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee leaders are ramping up their approach to tackle illegal dumping, a problem that continues to drag down neighborhoods across the city.

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Elizabeth Brown has lived on 22nd and Hadley for one year. In that year, she’s cleaned up the alley behind her home more times than she can count.

“It’s often. Very often. They even got trail cameras out here and it still doesn’t help,” said Brown.

Brown says as the weather gets warmer, the piles of garbage dumped seems to get higher. Abandoned buildings like the daycare next to Brown’s house is an easy target for illegal dumping.

“Stop. Dump in your own yard,” said Brown.

City officials are hoping more eyes in the sky, or at least on the ground, can help stop it.

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“It’s a crime of laziness and a crime of greed that happens across neighborhoods in Milwaukee,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.

The city is expanding its use of hidden cameras aimed at catching people in the act. By the end of the year, the city hopes to have 120 cameras installed in known illegal dumping sites. The city will also give up to $5000 in grants to neighborhood organizations to buy and install cameras, as part of the expansion program.

“If we catch you, when we catch you, you will get a citation of $5,000,” said Mayor Johnson.

Brown says in her neighborhood, the dumping hasn’t stopped.

“No, it’s not. They still dump,” said Brown.

Others say while the cameras are one step, there should be more proactive measures, including more additional free drop off center days.

“We know on those free days, the lines are out the door, down the street and around the corner. Maybe longer hours on those days,” said Amanda Clark who sits on the city's Anti-Illegal Dumping Policy and Research Committee.

Brown says she just wants to be able to enjoy her neighborhood and home.

“Stop coming here, driving all the way here to dump. For what? Cause you don’t want to take it to the dump site? Just stop,” said Brown.

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