Officials in Scottdale, say the bags littering Thomas Zeller's property, along with used tires, are trash and a district judge agreed Tuesday.
The 57-year-old Zeller says he fills the trash bags with leaves to insulate the ground on which he claims to grow 350 varieties of medicinal herbs and numerous vegetables. He estimates the garden produces 3,400 pounds of organic vegetables annually.
The same judge gave Zeller more than 30 days to clean up the bags, and fined him because borough officials say many of the bags remain on his property.
He says the borough is "making me an international criminal."
