His team has certifications to deal with hazardous materials and other dangerous things he's found in encampments.
Pressure is mounting on Seattle city leaders to act quickly to get a handle on an encampment that has grown across several properties in the Rainier Beach neighborhood.
The site is located along 42nd Avenue South near Beacon Avenue South and is mainly centered on two private lots. Neighbors told KOMO News last week they are dealing with daily issues stemming from the encampment and say the response from the city has been nonexistent.
While the city hasn't committed to a timeline for closing the camp, the cleanup work could take weeks, according to Ryan Baxter of Junk King Removal Services. Baxter has been part of some of the biggest encampment cleanups in the Seattle area, including in the woods near the Green River.
“It’s just dangerous — it’s dangerous for people to be out in this area," Baxter said. “You name it, it’s in there — beds, fridges, drugs, safes, needles, feces — anything that could be hazardous to your health."
Baxter visited the site with KOMO News on Thursday. He said the work to clear the area once the city orders it to be closed will be a delicate process.
"We're very mindful of the environment. It will take maybe a month or at least a few weeks," he said. “They know it’s coming, and we’re very respectful — we’re not there to bully, we’re just there to do our job and clean it up.”
His team has certifications to deal with hazardous materials and other dangerous things he's found in encampments.
“You can see the feces visibly in the water, changing the color, and you can smell — the smell is extreme. There’s rats, animals, raccoons, dogs, cats," he said.
Last week, neighbors told KOMO News the encampment was a serious risk to their community.
"The level of criminality behind us is off the charts," neighbor Andrew Rauch said.
The city is conducting bi-weekly trash service to the site, but there are no set plans for when the encampment will be closed and removed.
