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Illegal Dumping: Fines and Community Service

Illegal Dumping: Fines and Community Service

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“Trash begets trash” is a phrase that can easily sum up the growing problem of unlawfully dumped waste. The piles of illegally dumped materials often attracts other would-be dumpers to follow suit, further adding to the problem, and causing city officials to take action to try to prevent its recurrence. Some cities use serious fines and penalties, including community service, to help deter the crime of illegal dumping.

 

The cost of lawful waste disposal is among the many reasons people choose to commit this crime. Whether its cutting corners to save demolition and construction businesses money or citizens who do not want to pay out-of-pocket for the disposal fees, the crime amounts to the same; and it’s a serious one.

 

In addition to mandatory minimum fines and probation, many municipalities also handout lengthy community service hours. This community service often requires those who are convicted of illegal dumping to clean up popular dump sites. Community service not only cuts down on a city’s cost to clean up the sites, but also teaches perpetrators the kind of hard work and expense that goes into cleaning up these illegal dump sites. After completing their community service hours, it is rare that these wrongdoers go on to be repeat offenders of illegal dumping crimes.

 

Because illegal dumping is an issue that affects everyone in every neighborhood it occurs, local law enforcement and city prosecutors are determined to put a stop to this crime. Revised legislation and technology are the means by which city task-forces are accomplishing this goal. High-tech surveillance cameras are being placed in alleys and where popular dump sites are occurring, and consequently, reoccurring.

 

These illegal dumping cameras act as a two-fold means of deterring illegal dumping.

  • First as a means of identifying suspects and capturing evidence footage.
  • Second as a natural deterrent when the public is informed of its placement and an explanation of its use.

 

If your city has not yet introduced community service for illegal dumping crimes, it is time to think about it.

 

Autumn Uncovers Illegal Dump Sites

Autumn Uncovers Illegal Dump Sites

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Autumn is just around the corner and soon lush green leaves, which served as screens, will be replaced by filthy trash piles previously hidden. The dirty litter sites you forgot about are now front and center in view of the whole community. Now is the time to be thinking about those illegal dump piles that are unsightly, dangerous and costly, and use your resources take care of them.

Illegal trash areas are disgusting in so many ways. Unfortunately, illegal dumpers take the beauty of a neighborhood or country lane and turn it into a dumping ground. This pile of trash whether in the form of tires, freezers or plastic bottles creates an eye sore for the community. Unlawful dumping grounds attract creatures, such as rats and roaches, that are associated with disease.  Now, land that was once enjoyed by the public has become evaded, neglected, and a target.

Illegitimate dumping sites are not just annoying, they are a hazard to the community. Most people know areas littered with trash become home to roaches, rats and mosquitoes, but did you know it also becomes the home to bacteria that is harmful to humans?  Pathogens are hiding in the debris. According to the Environmental Science & Technology Publication, “Both large and small plastic debris can act as a substratum for pathogenic micro-organisms and parasites.” This is not good news.

Besides being hazardous to the community, illicit dumping is costly to the community.  Unfortunately,  community resources that can be used in more productive programs, are being used to clean up illegal rubbish sites.  The cost to clean unsanctioned dump sites varies but an article published by the EPA states it is estimated that “urban areas have reported spending several million dollars a year.” Stopping the problem of Illegal dumping is a challenge for all cities, but now is the time to use your resources and take care of this dirty task.

Illegal dumping of tires

Illegal Dumping-Tires

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Although most people take their worn out tires to a reputable drop off location, some tires are left abandoned. Usually, abandoned in an illegal dumping spot known to the locals. This creates a possible hazard to the community. Not only is a pile of illegally dumped tires unsightly, they are harmful.

Did you know illegally dumped tires are consider hazardous waste? According to the Fresno Development and Resource Management (DARM), 800 million used tires are stockpiled. Stockpiled tires can provide a habitat for disease spreading mosquitoes.  And with all the rain California has received this year, the West Nile virus or ZIKA carrying mosquitoes are a real threat. In addition to tires being a habitat, DARM warns that tires release paralytic oil. Paralytic oil can possibly start a fire, creating an oil fire. Sounds pretty hazardous!  But what can you do about this problem to help your community?

Here are some actions items you can do to help your community with the Illegal Dumping problem:

  • Report any Illegal Dump Sites 
  • If you witness the dumping, take a picture or write down:
    • The license plate number
    • The description of the vehicle
    • What was dumped
  • If the Illegal Dumping occurs on your private property, post signs according to the laws of your city.  (Following the city requirements allow code enforcement officers to help with appropriate action)

The first responsible action one can do is be aware that the Illegal dumping of tires is dangerous and a real problem.  The second responsible action one can do is help prevent it.

Illegal Dumping

Illegal Dumping Prevention

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Illegal dumping affects many communities around the globe. Hazardous waste, chemicals, and tires all negatively impact the environment and cost communities thousands of dollars. How to stop illegal dumping? Illegal dumping prevention is a tricky thing, and needs to be done correctly.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based in Region 5 in Chicago, wrote an “Illegal Dumping Prevention Guidebook” on how to establish an effective illegal dumping prevention program. The guide book addresses four areas:

  • Effective Leadership and support by the local officials
  • Cooperation among authorities, communities, and industry
  • An Integrated approach
  • Publicizing success

Effective Leadership and support by the local officials

In order to prevent illegal dumping, there needs to be a prevention program in place. All the key leaders and government officials need to be on aboard with that program. Local officials should come together to work with laws to stop illegal dumping, or develop laws to help prevent and discourage illegal dumping. Officials need to plan and receive adequate funding. Stopping illegal dumping has to be on the priority list. If it is not, then preventing it will be difficult.

In addition, there needs to be effective equipment and tools for the leaders to deal with preventing illegal dumping, equipment like camera systems that take high resolutions photos that capture license plates in complete darkness. The leaders need to learn how to use their tools and equipment to make better use of tools at their disposal.

Cooperation among authorities, communities, and industry

Other departments like the police, public works, environmental, and sanitation need to be on board, not just city officials. There needs to be good communication and coordination among departments. A good model would be where the city officials put a penalty in place, public works and environmental departments  use tools to catch law breakers, and the police enforce the law. Putting an illegal dumping task force together can help put the load off other departments, but there still needs to be proper collaboration and communication.

An Integrated approach

Integration of several strategies will prove to be an effective way to stop illegal dumping. EPA’s “Illegal Dumping Prevention Guidebook”, gives four strategies:

  • Site Maintenance and controls
  • Community outreach and involvement
  • Targeting enforcement
  • Program measurement

The guidebook gives detailed descriptions of these “toolkit” items at the end of the book. Learning to integrate these strategies is an important part of illegal dumping prevention.

Publicizing success

Showing success through media is a way to notify the community that illegal dumping is being dealt with, and the prevention program is working. This will help gain additional support from other organizations and surrounding communities and will educate them on how to stop illegal dumping.  In addition, tracking arrests and publicizing them will fuel illegal dumping prevention, because other illegal dumpers will be notified and hopefully stop.