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Illegal Dumping Strategies

Illegal Dumping Strategies

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Every city needs an Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program with a well thought out strategy.

Illegal Dumping is a worldwide epidemic, which is surprising considering the amount of awareness there appears to be.  There has been a lot of news and education regarding protecting the environment.  Are people aware that illegal dumping harms the environment and the communities?  It is hard to assess.  What is the most prevalent source of illegal dumping? Again, hard to assess.

According to Washington County, Ohio, the most items found are furniture, tires, roofing shingles, and disposable diapers. Some donation centers no longer accept furniture, due to the possible infestation of bugs that harbor within.  This along with large items being restricted in the weekly trash pickup makes it difficult for some people to dispose of the large items appropriately.  The tire and roof shingle dumping is usually committed by commercial companies that know they are committing a crime but are illegally dumping anyway.

These factors need to be considered when implementing the Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program.

  • 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?

These factors can be a deal breaker and should carefully be considered when forming the strategy to stop illegal dumping.

 

Illegal Dumping and Increased Crime

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Illegal dumping is an unsightly scene. Fly dumping sites breed bacteria, lower home and business property values, and pose a danger to families living nearby. Did you know illegal dumping grounds also increase the crime to the affected community?

In some instances, the additional crime is more dumping such as abandoned trash, tires, and mattresses in a vacant lot. People assuming a few more tires or broken pieces of furniture added to the junkyard will not make much of a difference, thus adding to the fly dumping pile.

An essay on the effects of illegal dumping to Lawrence, PA states that one improperly disposed article can cause a “chain reaction” to your community in many harmful ways.

Amongst this “chain link” of fly dumping, is the attraction of illegal drugs and drug manufacturers. Harmful and highly dangerous narcotics are often the types of drugs that are drawn in by illegal dumping. Drug related articles found thrown into the garbage pile at the site are meth lab materials and heroin needles.

In addition to destroying community pride, fly dumping also attracts gatherings of rowdy people that behave in an unwanted manner. Disorderly teenagers often find illegal dumping sites to be “fun” hangout sites and sometimes take to vandalizing nearby homes and parks as part of their group activities.

So, what are communities to do to prevent this chain reaction? They cannot simply believe the perpetrators will suddenly stop fly dumping and clean up the litter. Communities must make an investment in an illegal dumping prevention program.

                                                 Create an Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program.

A Successful Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program involves many departments within the city.

  • Education: Educate the community about the hazards and the cost of illegal dumping.
  • Hotlines: Hotlines are a very useful tool when there are witnesses nearby.
  • Social Media Program: To ask the community to help identify perpetrators.
  • Legislation: Strict laws to combat illegal dumping.
  • Enforcement: Enforce, respond, investigate, and prosecute.
  • Staff Resources: Staff that is trained and dedicated to combat the illegal dumping problem.
  • Illegal Dumping Cameras– cameras specifically designed to provide prosecutable evidence in dark remote areas, where illegal dumping usually occurs.

Eliminate illegal dumping and create an Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program!

Prosecuting Illegal Dumping

Prosecuting Illegal Dumping

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It is very difficult to prosecute the illegal dumping crime.  The crime itself usually takes place in remote areas where witnesses cannot be found.  Prosecutors have a challenge due to lack of evidence.  In a court of law, a case that can create reasonable doubt will be thrown out and no conviction will take place.

Therefore, municipalities must be very careful and thoughtful to the tools purchased to help them identify and prosecute.

One common practice is collecting evidence found at the dump site, such as receipts and documents that connect the documents to a person responsible.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to prove that the person connected to the evidence is the actual person who committed the illegal dumping crime.

Another current practice is using trail cameras or video cameras.   Although, some evidence can be collected, the cameras are not tamper-proof and the resolution is questionable in court, giving the defense attorney a platform to provide reasonable doubt, which is all that is needed to win a case.

Most illegal dumping occurs in remote areas where electricity and internet connection are not available.  However, the remote dumping sites are creating disease and hazards to the community and a solution must be found.

Fortunately, there are Illegal Dumping Cameras specifically designed to capture evidence in remote areas.   And these photos have stood up in court, winning the conviction needed to stop the illegal dumping occurring within the community.

Not all cameras are created equal.  Make sure your community has the right tools to stop illegal dumping.

The Illegal Dumping Struggle

The Illegal Dumping Struggle

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Illegal Dumping is a struggle for all cities and counties throughout the nation.  Most cities have implemented some type of illegal dumping program to try to catch perpetrators, by investigating the dump site to try to find clues as to where it came from or using trail cameras to have photo identification of the crime in the act.

Sadly, the pitfalls of these tactics are very frustrating.  Although clues can be found at a dump site, it is very difficult to attach the clues to the actual person responsible for the dumping.  There are numerous reasons for a defense attorney to be able to create enough doubt, making it very difficult for the prosecutor to convict the person on trial for the illegal dumping charge.

This is also the case for trail cameras.  Trail cameras do not have the ability to get enough detail in resolution and they are easy to tamper with, again giving the defense attorney enough cause for reasonable doubt, therefore no conviction.

For an Illegal Dumping Program to be successful there must be a bite in the consequences of illegal dumping.  A solid program should generate revenue to pay for the Illegal Dumping Program, and other programs that benefit the community.  But for that to happen, clear evidence is needed to be provided to the prosecutor.  Solid evidence, making it hard for a defense attorney to find reasonable doubt.

Thankfully, there are Illegal Dumping Enforcement Cameras, designed specifically to capture evidence that will stand up in court

An effective Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program is necessary to stop illegal dumping.  Cities need to provide their departments with the right tools in the fight of beautifying and protecting the environment.