Starting in mid-December, the city is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for creating more than 100 illegal piles of debris in such locations across the island, city officials said.

Anyone caught would face a felony charge that could result in a five-year prison sentence.

“Our police officers and code enforcement officers have discussed the problem with most landscape contractors working on the island,” city manager Bill Moss said.

Some residents are also dumping fresh green cuttings on top of piles of browned hurricane debris. Debris that includes fresh material is ineligible for pickup by the county contractor.

Residents and contractors are required to keep fresh cuttings separate from designated hurricane debris.