Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 23, 1991                   TAG: 9103230168
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DALLAS                                LENGTH: Medium

DALLAS' `UNDERGROUND ECONOMY' FINED IN CAN COLLECTION CRACKDOWN

"I think the whole matter is a preposterous example of misapplied resources," Councilman Jerry Bartos said.

"We've got crack dealers. We've got strip joints. We've got people stealing the aluminum off bridges," he said. "And we're chasing around poor people who, frankly, are keeping the streets clean."

In recent weeks, about 10 people have received tickets for violating the city code that prohibits illegal collection of trash. Violations, mainly by homeless people searching for recyclable materials, were largely ignored before.

But police increased enforcement after businesses complained about scavengers, spokesman Sgt. Jim Chandler said.

"Businesses complain to the City Council and they pass that complaint to police and we act on it," Chandler said.

"We don't have our patrol officers looking for them," he said. "Obviously there are more important things for them to do."

"This is going to be extremely expensive," said Joanne Hill, director of Dry Gulch Recycling Centers in Dallas. "How are you going to fine people who have nothing?"

Can City of Dallas, a recycling center near the central business district, buys more than 100 pounds of aluminum cans from homeless people daily, said manager Greg Johnson.

"A lot of people make a living doing that, get food and stuff like that," Johnson said.

It would take 730 pounds of aluminum cans to raise $240.

James Poole, a 59-year-old homeless man, said that two of his friends were ticketed and feel harassed.

"I pick up cans to make a living. I don't rob or steal," Poole told The Dallas Morning News.

Hill said the city's stance toward can scavengers is ironic because it does little to promote recycling. Dallas is testing a recycling program this year in several neighborhoods.

"Instead of focusing their attention on trying to fine people who are doing a public service, the city ought to be to turning toward its own wastestream, which they do not recycle," Hill said.

She described an "underground economy" in which scavengers take aluminum, glass, computer paper and batteries to sell to recyclers. Finding all the scavengers would be "like trying to put your finger in a dike," Hill said.

"These people have the vision to make their money selling cans rather than selling crack," Lipscomb said.