Environmental Group Discovers Dumped Vehicles
A local environmental nonprofit has uncovered over 20 e-bikes and scooters abandoned in the Potomac River near the Trump-Kennedy Center this month.
The Potomac Riverkeeper Network reported on social media that the vehicles were found in the D.C. waterway on January 8, following a tip received through its pollution hotline.
Dean Naujoks, the head of the network, confirmed that a total of 22 vehicles were dumped in the river. He expressed concern that if these items remain in the water, their batteries could corrode, leading to harmful substances leaching into the river.
Naujoks informed Washington’s WRC-TV that his organization managed to retrieve eight of the e-bikes and scooters. The group has reached out to D.C.’s Department of Energy and Environment to identify which company owns these vehicles.
The city’s Department of Transportation, along with bike and scooter-sharing companies Lime and Bird, have stated they are collaborating with the Potomac Riverkeeper Network to remove the remaining e-bikes and scooters from the water.
Transportation officials indicated that once retrieved, any company responsible for dumping these vehicles would face fines.
