Century Village East Drenched in Disgust as Illegal Bulk Trash Dumping Runs Rampant

In an ongoing and seemingly unending shocking display of disregard for community standards, residents of Century Village East have turned their neighborhoods into eyesores with rampant illegal bulk trash dumping.

Despite clear city regulations that mandate bulk items be placed out only on Tuesdays for a scheduled Wednesday pickup, countless residents are blatantly abandoning their discarded furniture, appliances, and other refuse against dumpsters on virtually every day of the week. 

“I am sure a lot of [residents] are aware, when you drive around the community on the weekends and first thing Monday morning, people have put out a lot of bulk trash,” said Robert Streather, CVE Master Management Director of Operations. “I am sure everyone knows by now that bulk trash pick-up is on Wednesday.”

“We like to take pride in our community,” added Streather.

The persistent piles of unwanted bulk trash have not only tarnished the once-proud aesthetic of the village but may also be taking a measurable toll on property values. In fact, studies have shown that neighborhoods plagued by visible trash and clutter often experience a significant decline in property prices.

According to a 2016 study by the Reinvestment Fund, communities burdened with such unsightly trash can see decreases in property value ranging from 5% to 20%, depending on the extent of the disorder.

Local real estate experts further warn that unsightly garbage not only depresses home values but also reduces investor interest, making it harder for homeowners to sell their properties in the future. Some say the disorganized accumulation of garbage sends a stark message of neglect, eroding community pride and the overall appeal of the area.

“The biggest problem I find in the Village is that people don’t give a damn,” said outgoing City of Deerfield Beach City Commissioner Bernie Parness. Parness is also a village resident. “I ride through the village every day and I see bulk out when it shouldn’t be out,” said Parness. “Garbage all over the place. And then when they get a ticket I get a phone call asking ‘Why did I get a ticket?’”

“Because you are trying to make us look like a pigsty,” said Parness. “You put it out Tuesday for Wednesday pick-up, period.”

Adding to the worry is the fact that this is arguably the worst possible time for such a blatant disregard for property values. For many Canadian residents who own properties in the village, political tensions south of the border are contributing to uncertainty about their future in the community.

Some Canadians, many of whom have long invested in the homes of Century Village East, are now reconsidering their ownership considering growing anti-Canadian rhetoric from the Trump Administration and increasing political instability in the U.S. This could further depress demand for real estate in the area, especially if the visible neglect continues to pile up in the form of bulk trash dump sites.

“[Canadians] are trying to sell their homes, many because of the [tariff] issue, and their property values have gone down. Why? Because people come in and they look at trash,” said Parness.

This isn’t the first time Century Village East has found itself in hot water over waste management. The village carries a notorious history of failing to abide by trash regulations—a problem so severe that the city was forced to discontinue recycling services years ago after residents repeatedly failed to follow proper sorting procedures.

Even the city’s code enforcement efforts, which include issuing fines and citations to the building nearest each dumping site, have proven woefully ineffective in curbing the behavior.

“The city will give code violations,” said Streather.

“If there are fines for bulk trash, the fine goes to the building. They’re not looking for individuals so maybe the building boards, presidents, etc. will keep an eye out for violators in their building,” said Jeff Kohn, a member of the CVE Master Management Board of Directors.

In a last-ditch effort to shame the offenders into compliance, this season CVE Master Management revived its infamous monthly newsletter segment, the "Wall of Shame." The segment publicly names violators in hopes of deterring future dumping.

However, despite the renewed efforts, the deluge of illegally dumped bulk trash continues unabated, leaving village officials frustrated and scrambling for a viable solution. As neighborhood appearance deteriorates, and property values run the risk of weakening, frustrated officials and residents alike are left wondering when—or if—the tide will ever turn against this repulsive trend.

With each passing day, the community’s struggle against neglect and disorder becomes increasingly evident, painting a grim picture of a village at a crossroads—caught between environmental decay, disgruntled homeowners, and a political climate that sparks uncertainty.