Todd Sneathen, East Lansing’s director of public works, said the trend of illegal dumping has “become extreme” in the last year, particularly in rental neighborhoods.

Because many renters might not wholly be aware of the city’s policies, Sneathen said it was important for East Lansing officials to make the community aware of what proper policy is in addition to reform.

“We’re going to have to try a bunch of different approaches,” he said. “I think we need to do a better job (of informing landlords and tenants).”

To correctly dispose of unwanted bulk items, city residents are required to buy a $15 sticker and call the city’s Department of Public Works to have it picked up. Stickers can be purchased at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road, East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, and the public works building, 1800 East State Road. Property owners found to be dumping illegally are given a three-day notice to dispose of the item before they are ticketed by PACE officers.

The issue is being brought up largely because of the safety concern the unwanted furniture poses, particularly in light of the number of issues related to furniture during
the past month.

Assistant City Attorney Tom Yeadon said a major issue in curbing the problem lies with prosecution difficulty. When it’s hard to determine who dumped furniture where, Yeadon said ticketing the property owner might be the only feasible way to keep renters in check.

“This happens every year like clockwork,” he said. “Landlords should be aware that this is happening and monitor that property.”

East Lansing Fire Marshal Bob Pratt said the department usually sees a spike in the number of couch fires occurred during August when many students are changing residences.

“Just like any public body, we have to take things as they come,” he said. “It’s not a huge crisis in the city, it’s a nuisance.”

Pratt said he hopes to have a strategy in place in time for basketball season and before spring move-out.

This fall, one individual was caught red-handed, but in most instances, the burnings take place in isolated areas and generally there is no evidence left behind, East Lansing police Capt. Kim Johnson said.

“We have very few leads when it comes to these couch burnings because there is little evidence unless there’s an eyewitness,” he said. “We knock on doors, we do some follow-up work … but we don’t have the resources to look into it further.”

The intent is not to punish residents, landlords or renters, but to come up with ways to stop an issue, Sneathen said.