Camden is using police-operated drones to crack down on illegal dumping
So far this year, the Camden County Police Department has pursued 68 illegal dumping incidents — about the same as all of 2025.
The Camden Department of Public Works spends about $4.5 million annually to clean up illegal dumping.
City officials say the disrespect shown by landlords, outsiders, and even residents is just as problematic as the use of taxpayer money.
“These bad actors who dump illegally simply don’t care about our city,” Mayor Victor Carstarphen said. “So we’re trying to hit them where it counts. We’re hitting them in their pockets.”
Carstarphen, along with city and county officials, outlined a strategy on Wednesday to tackle the problem and released detailed photos and videos showing those who have been charged with dumping.
They say an aggressive push to combat widespread blight and improve neighborhood quality will use a combination of stepped-up enforcement, drones, high-tech camera networks, and steep penalties.
Violators face fines of up to $10,000.
In addition, officials are offering a $1,000 reward for residents who provide information, such as video from doorbell cameras, that leads to a violator being caught.
A widespread problem
Carstarphen said the problem is widespread and the dumping comes from contractors and landlords who live outside the city, as well as within.
Camden County Police Department Capt. Gordon Harvey gave a presentation detailing those who have been charged.
Most are from Camden or nearby communities such as Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Pine Hill, Mount Laurel, and Maple Shade. But people from Bernville, Pa., Ashburn, Va., and Union, N.J., have also been charged.
So far this year, the Camden County Police Department has pursued 68 illegal dumping incidents — about the same as in all of 2025.
In 2026, 27 people have been charged in 31 incidents.
About 40% of the illegal dumping activity has been located in the Waterfront South neighborhood.
Harvey said other neighborhoods, such as Bergen Square, Fairview, and Beideman, all have been hit.
Educating the community about the problem is key, he said.
“We need you to help us. We need you to report these incidents,” Harvey said in a direct plea to residents. “Tell us when they’re happening, where they’re happening.”
Officials say residents can report dumping anonymously through the STOPit mobile phone app.
Harvey showed videos of people brazenly pulling up in vehicles to dump in parks, streets, alleys, and secluded areas. Materials ranged from construction waste to bags of household waste.
‘Eye in the sky’
Some people have been charged the same day they dumped waste because they were caught by police-controlled drones owned by the county, or by the city’s “eye in the sky” network of video cameras.
The network provides “1,000 unique views within the City of Camden,” city Public Works Director Keith Walker said.
Most cameras are fixed, but the city has five mobile cameras dedicated to identifying illegal dumping. They can be moved to a hot spot in less than an hour.
In addition, the police department has two full-time drone pilots, though they scan the city for many other issues beyond dumping. Five drones are stationed on rooftops throughout Camden, and all can reach a site in minutes.
Walker said the city has spent $3.2 million on new equipment that can be used to tackle illegal dumping. That includes five compact waste-collection trucks, a large front-end loader, and a range of dump trucks.
Equipment and cleanup costs divert funds from community parks, playground equipment, and youth programming, he said.
“We spend most of our time dealing with the new dumping, and it cuts into our budget,” Walker said.
Officials say they hold community cleanups and clean out dumps, only to find the areas blighted again within days.
“Enough is enough,” said Angel Fuentes, Camden City Council president. “We won’t tolerate this type of behavior.”
