The Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority is having some major trash problems.

From televisions to Styrofoam and even clothing, the organization's recycling barns have been treated like Dumpsters.

"We’ve had had dirty diapers, a dead animal in the Martins Ferry Barn -- and we are going to start going after people," said Jack Cera, of the Belmont Solid Waste Authority.

And for people who are caught, the fine could be hefty. A littering charge could cost up to $500, three days in jail and community service. But the Solid Waste Authority hopes the problem can be solved by teaching people how to properly recycle.

"I think some people don't know. They think of a material they think of glass or plastic that it is recyclable and I think they honestly don't know. But there are people who take advantage of it to get rid of their garbage," Cera said.

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Cera said the authority has many people who educate people about recycling and said he hopes to do more of that. If people are unsure about what plastic is recyclable, check the bottom of the bottle. If there is a number 1 through 5 inside the triangle, it can be dropped off at a recycling barn.

For other items like televisions, plastic furniture or even tires, the Solid Waste Authority can be contacted to help people get rid of them.

"There's a lot of benefits to recycling. We hope to see more job creation from it. Certainly saving energy from it and keeping the environment cleaner," Cera said.

Starting this weekend, the Jefferson-Belmont Solid Waste Authority is starting their community clean-up weekends, a time where they help people recycle bigger items.

The 2010 Community Cleanup schedule is:

March 20 – Wheeling & Union Townships at the Wheeling Township garage on Main Street/Route 9 North

March 27 – Colerain Township at the Maynard Firehouse Community Park on Fairpoint-Maynard Rd.

April 10 – open lot located behind Chapter Square in Bridgeport

April 17 – Goshen Township at the Township garage on Hunter-Bethesda Rd.

April 24 – Warren Township at the train depot parking lot

May 1 – Mead Township under the Moundsville Bridge

May 8 – Pultney Township at the Neffs Fire Hall parking lot

May 15 – Richland Township at the Township garage on Warnock-St. Clairsville Rd.

All eight scheduled cleanups are held on Saturdays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Belmont County residents are invited to participate in any listed cleanup. Old household junk, appliances, furniture, mattresses, carpeting, car batteries, standard car and light truck tires are accepted.

The tire recycling company requires tires to be less than 54 inches high and 16 inches wide with no heavy accumulation of dirt or water.

Materials that will not be accepted include household organic garbage, grass and tree trimmings, and construction and demolition materials. Absolutely no liquid or hazardous materials will be accepted.

Because no electronics recycling will be available at the cleanup events, residents are asked to hold all televisions for a special electronics recycling event to be held later in the year.