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Illegal Dumping and Increased Crime

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

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.

Start an Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program

Start an Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program

Before the 1800s, trash including bones and broken cooking utensils were left strewn about on the household yard.  In the 1800s people began to be more discrete and dug holes to dump their trash.  A little trivia tells us, between 1872-1932 – Worcester, MA used pigs to consume the city’s garbage.

Unbelievably, it wasn’t until the 1960s that public health became a concern.  Entering the arena was the Solid Waste Disposal Act (1965).

As time continues so does the trash problem, how to dispose of trash and protect the environment.  Unfortunately, the problem of illegal dumping continues to plague cities and counties across the globe.

So, what can be done to protect your community from the hazards of illegal dumping?

The solution is an effective Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program, and the key elements, which require departments to work together, are:

 

  • Education: Continue the fight and help the community become aware of the hazards created from illegal dumping.

 

  • Legislation: Legislate and provide tough fines for illegal dumping.

 

  • Staff Resources: Train and keep a dedicated staff that can stay focused.

 

  • Tools: Illegal dumping enforcement cameras designed to capture and provide prosecutable evidence, especially in remote areas.

 

  • Enforcement: Enforcement is necessary to deter further illegal dumping activity.

 

Stop the illegal dumping hazards and blight in your community and create an effective Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program today!

#noillegaldumping #stopillegaldumping #publicworks

 

Illegal Dumping Solution

Illegal Dumping Solution

Illegal Dumping is a problem throughout the world, and every community is looking for solutions. It is safe to bet, that all solutions do not look the same and do not have an equal return.

It is excellent that communities are looking for ways to stop the pollution and disease that are associated with illegal dump sites. But unfortunately, the solution is not so easy. Dump sites move around.  Dump sites are usually in remote areas.  And let us say again, dump sites move around.

Therefore, installing electricity and internet cables are not wise or efficient, making surveillance difficult if not downright impossible. Besides the fact that traditional surveillance does not have the best resolution for prosecutable images, it requires electricity and internet connection to work.  There are a few “Solar Powered” surveillance systems out there, however the battery does not last long and must be changed frequently, the surveillance does not produce prosecutable images, and they are not vandal proof.

Fortunately, there are Illegal Dumping Enforcement Cameras, that are specifically designed to solve these problems.  They are designed to capture images and license plates even in complete darkness.  They are completely self-contained needing no electricity or wiring.  The best part is they are portable, making it easy to move where the problem moves.

However, even with Illegal Dumping Enforcement Cameras, a community needs to implement an Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program. An Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program involves multiple departments within the community.

A successful Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program should include the following elements:

  • Education: Educate the community through social media, community engagements, and through the schools.
  • Legislation: Stiff fines need to be adopted especially for commercial companies that illegally dump.
  •  Staff Resources: To be successful, there needs to be dedicated staff to ensure the program is implemented and stays on track.
  • Tools: Not all tools can do the job. You should not use a screwdriver when a hammer is needed.  Therefore, the right tools, Illegal Dumping Enforcement Cameras, designed especially to capture prosecutable images in complete darkness in remote areas are needed.
  • Enforcement: Enforcement is another key factor. Enforcement is needed to deter further illegal dumping activity.

What is your community doing to stop illegal dumping?

 

#noillegaldumping #stopillegaldumping #publicworks