Disease and Illegal Dumping

When illegal dumping occurs, it is usually done in a careless way; people discard unwanted items anywhere they please. Dumping tires can be extremely dangerous to the city and the citizens within. One of the most harmful consequences of dumping tires is when tires are left on an illegal dump site and it rains, they collect water. This presents a very dangerous problem: mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes can carry some of the deadliest diseases such as: Dengue Fever, West Nile Virus, and Zika Virus. When mosquitoes choose a place to lay their larva, they choose places that are wet, shaded, and can provide insulation to help hatch the larva. Unfortunately, illegally dumped tires fit all these qualifications.

Tires need a proper disposal site, one where they are legally regulated and hopefully recycled. Marcia Anderson from The EPA Blog tells of different ways to dispose of tires (shredding, making holes to prevent collection of water, etc.) to help protect the community from all the deadly diseases that mosquitos carry.

 People who illegally dump their tires may not know how serious of a problem they are creating when they discard their tires wherever they please. In order to protect cities, there needs to be precautions taken to help stop the acts of illegal dumping before they happen.

• Educate:

Inform and involve the community. Communities should be involved in maintaining a healthy way of life for the citizens. If citizens are properly informed of the consequences that are involved with illegally dumping tires and taught the proper disposal of tires and how this helps their community, they are more apt to comply with the local laws.

• Protect:

Illegal Dumping Cameras are needed to help identify and prosecute those who illegally dump their tires and place the community in danger. The presence of cameras also deters further dumping. Cameras that deter crimes before they happen is the number one way to eliminate the problem of mosquito infested tires.