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Proactive Against Illegal Dumping

Proactive Against Illegal Dumping

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Illegal Dumping is a community curse that requires proactive measures that stop illegal dumping before it happens.

Illegal Dumping is not just trash that is thrown from a car. Illegal dumping usually involves big items like refrigerators, tires, couches, and construction debris left in remote areas.  An out of the way, remote area can be an off road clearing in the forest, a vacant lot, a hidden alleyway, or a road behind a store front.  All these areas get hit by offenders leaving their unwanted items for the rest of the community to take care of.

Cities are tasked with the burden to create legislation that will offset the expense illegal dumping causes, which can be very expensive especially if the clean up involves environmental water pollution.  A lot of citizens don’t want punishment even for offenders, but the alternative is pollution and disease.

Therefore, legislators need to purchase tools that are specifically designed to be proactive in stopping illegal dumping.  The city of Seattle cleans up 2 million tons of trash a year and it costs 1.7 million dollars and they are ready to be proactive in stopping the problem.

Being proactive against illegal dumping means doing something different and using tools that are effective in areas traditional surveillance is not.

Here are the questions to ask when being proactive:

  • Are there enough legal waste disposal sites?
  • Are there programs in place to rally the disposal of hazardous waste, and large items?
  • Are there educational programs in place to raise awareness of the programs in place and the hazards associated with illegal dumping?
  • Are the fines high enough to discourage illegal dumping?
  • Have Illegal Dumping Cameras been deployed at the sites?
  • Do the Illegal Dumping Cameras capture images and license plates?
  • Are the Illegal Dumping Cameras vandal resistant?
  • Are the Illegal Dumping Cameras able to be placed in remote areas where no electricity or internet connection is available?

 

Be proactive, stop illegal dumping in your community!

Successful Illegal Dumping Program

Successful Illegal Dumping Program

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First, ask what objectives are in mind and what challenges are already in place.

Most cities today face the backlash of not keeping the community safe from the hazards of illegal dumping. Therefore, the objective is to keep the environment safe from hazardous waste and debris that harbor disease and disease carrying rats and mosquitoes. Having no illegal dumping activity would be ideal.

This is a challenge in so many ways.  The citizens pollute their own community either by lack of knowledge, lack of care, or find it more profitable to do it anyway. The deposal of waste can be expensive for most people, especially large items such as appliances and construction debris.  There is also the rise in homelessness and reduction of income in many communities.  These challenges make it harder to legislate tougher fines and enforce laws already in place.

However, the community still needs to have clean water and not live with the risk of hazards illegal dumping causes, such as disease carrying rats, mosquitoes, and toxins that infect the area, water supplies, and spread to the whole community.

These concerns make it important to have an illegal dumping program that is effective and deters the problem.

Although fines are hard to impose, the alternative is making the whole community pay the costs of clean up, which could mean higher taxes or taking money from another resource that was meant to improve the lives of the citizens.  Fines are an important function of a successful illegal dumping program, but only if the laws are enforced.

A successful Illegal Dumping Program must include many departments working together.

Education

Social media, community engagements, and school activities are a great way to educate the community.

Legislation

Although tough fines can be controversial, they are needed, especially for commercial companies.

 Staff Resources

A dedicated staff to implement and direct the program is essential.

Tools

Having the suitable tools to stop illegal dumping is essential.  Prosecuting illegal dumping requires evidence to stand up in court.  Make sure the  illegal dumping enforcement cameras are designed specially to capture prosecutable images in complete darkness in remote areas.

Enforcement

To have a successful Illegal Dumping Program, enforcement needs to be a priority.

Is your city ready to implement a successful Illegal Dumping Program?

 

#noillegaldumping #stopillegaldumping #publicworks

mosquitoe

End Illegal Dump Sites

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Spring is here, which brings warmer temperatures and rain; therefore, time to clean up and put an end to those Illegal dump sites before they harbor mosquitoes.

If your city is like most cities throughout the United States, then you are up to your eye balls with the illegal dumping problem.  Illegal dumping is not only unsightly but is also a breeding ground for rats and mosquitoes, which carry disease to the community.

The newest virus is the Jamestown Canyon virus, which is spread by a bite of an infected mosquito. The Jamestown Canyon virus can cause a severe disease including encephalitis, defined as brain inflammation.  There are over 200 different categories of mosquitos and 12 which spread diseases harmful to humans. Some known diseases are Malaria, West Nile virus, Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus.  The ability to spread germs to a person depends on the type of germ, the amount of the germ eaten, the age of the mosquito, and the environmental conditions.

In order to breed and lay eggs, the mosquito must have water.  Unfortunately, temporary sitting water, created by rain in an unlawfully disposed tire or debris, is the perfect environment to leave over 100 eggs. This is just one of the reasons the eradication of unauthorized dump sites is essential.

To rid your community of the unlawful dumping areas, the implementation of an Illegal Dumping Program is necessary.  A successful Illegal Dumping Program includes departments working together. This involves educating the community, changing legislation to include stiff fines, staff resources that make illegal dumping a priority, tools specifically designed to stop illegal dumping , and the ability to prosecute.

Take the next step and end the illegal dump sites in your city.

Hazards- Illegal Dumping

Hazards- Illegal Dumping

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Illegal dumping is the act of disposing of waste materials in an unapproved location. This act has negative effects on the environment, public health, and the economy. In this article, we will examine some of the consequences of illegal dumping and its effects on communities.

One of the most significant consequences of illegal dumping is the negative impact on the environment. Hazardous waste materials can leak into the soil and contaminate groundwater, which can harm the ecosystem and wildlife. Illegal dumping can also contribute to air pollution, as waste materials can release toxic fumes when they decompose.

Another consequence of illegal dumping is the negative impact on public health. Waste materials, especially hazardous waste, can pose a threat to human health, leading to various diseases and illnesses. Dumped waste can also attract vermin, such as rats and mosquitoes, which can carry diseases.

Illegal dumping also has a detrimental effect on the economy. The cost of cleaning up illegal dump sites can be significant, and this cost is often borne by taxpayers. Additionally, illegal dump sites can lead to a decline in property values, which can negatively affect the local economy.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), illegal dumping has become a significant problem in the United States. In 2018, there were over 25,000 illegal dump sites identified in the country. The EPA estimates that illegal dumping costs the country between $10 billion and $70 billion each year in cleanup costs, lost revenue, and other expenses.

 

In conclusion, illegal dumping has far-reaching consequences that affect the environment, public health, and the economy. Preventing illegal dumping requires a collaborative effort between government agencies, law enforcement, and community members. By taking proactive measures to prevent illegal dumping, we can protect our environment, promote public health, and safeguard our economy.