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A Disturbing Sight, Dental Waste All Over Kendall Streets

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Hazmat crews got a Thursday morning call to pick up what appeared to be dental waste from Kendall streets.

Surgical gloves, suction tubes, dental floss and tissues with what appeared to be blood were littered throughout SW 84th Avenue between 120th and 124th Street.

"We got reports that it was more of a medical waste but when we got here, we realized it was dental waste," said Peter Lugo with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. "We were waiting for a responsible party to come and pick it up but since there was some delay we just started cleaning it up ourselves."

Dental Waste
Surgical gloves, suction tubes, dental floss and tissues with what appeared to be blood were littered throughout SW 8th Avenue between 120th and 124th Street. (Source: CBS4)

Children and their parents walked through the waste to get to Vineland K-8 Center nearby. Residents in the area expressed concern about the waste and the possibility a child could pick it up.

"They might pick it up and play around and might dare each other to touch it and everything," said neighbor Jeanette Marquez. "This is, you know, not good."

"I think that's very dangerous because this is the main route for kids walking to school," said neighbor Dawn Brinklow.

Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue blocked the streets so crews could work to clean up the mess and put it into biohazard bags.

Neighbors say they were stunned by the sight of dozens of bags of waste littering several blocks over a half-mile area.

"I feel really bad because this is crazy, you know, anybody can get sick," said a neighbor who identified himself as Raul.

"I'm surprised. I'm very in shock. This is a nice neighborhood and it's you know decent," said Marquez. "I am just very surprised at what I am seeing right now, all these needles everywhere."

"Why would there be medical waste here? Did somebody just come and dump it here," said neighbor Beth Anne Boyd.

Authorities are unsure where the waste came from.

"We're not sure how it happened or who caused it but we definitely have to protect the children and the residents in the area," said Lugo.

Meantime, investigators are trying to determine where it came from. Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Police or fire rescue.

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