What is illegal dumping?
According to a study of U.S. plastic trash that was published in the journal of Science Advances, every year, more than a million tons of plastic rubbish fall into places where it shouldn’t!
Did you know that 1,300 plastic shopping bags per person end up in places like waterways and roadways harming the environment we live in? Illegal dumping not only affects our environment but also results in severe penalties and fines. Want to find out more about how unlawful dumping affects you and the environment? Keep reading.
What is it?
Illegal dumping is the unlicensed act of disposing of waste by depositing it on private or public property. It occurs when waste is disposed of somewhere other than a location intended for doing so. This poses harm to human health and the environment. Forests, open fields, drainage ditches, streams, culverts, bare lots, alleyways, and dumpsters are common places where waste is illegally dumped. Some items that are known to be illegal to dump like this are household garbage, hazardous waste, appliances, mattresses, furniture, and electronics.
The type and quantity of trash used in this matter are different from litter. Small amounts of rubbish put out improperly typically constitute littering. Some towns, counties, and states fine people for littering, and unlawful dumping carries even harsher penalties!
At Dumpster Near Me, we don’t accept these materials: aerosol cans, all liquids, animals, antifreeze, appliances, asbestos, barrels, batteries, chemical products, computers, contaminated oils, dirt, fluorescent tubes, food waste, hazardous waste, herbicides & pesticides, lubricating/ hydraulic oil, medical waste, microwaves, monitors, motor oil, oil filters, other flammable liquids, paint, propane tanks, radioactive material, railroad ties, solvents, televisions, tires, transmission oil.
Why are illegal dumping activities increasing?
The rise of improperly dumped garbage can be attributed to a variety of issues.
The population of our planet is growing every day and with more people, we produce more waste which may cause improper disposal.
We live in a consumer-oriented society which means more and more purchases are being made but many of the illegally disposed waste items are not actually consumables.
Trash disposal costs money which makes people put their waste in places it shouldn’t be to avoid these charges.
Effects
People improperly disposing their garbage is the main cause of contamination of the land, water, soil, and air. The decision to leave trash outside or in vacant urban spaces might result in a variety of environmental risks or have an impact on other people’s lives.
Hazardous chemicals and other contaminants may leak into the soil from non-biodegradable materials, contaminating the soil and neighboring waterways.
Plastic items end up in rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans where they poison or entangle wildlife.
Improper disposal of contaminated medical waste might serve as a haven for dangerous microorganisms. When used tires are put outside, water, leaves, and other debris can readily accumulate. This is the perfect environment for disease-carrying mosquito eggs and larvae to develop.
The environment’s trash serves as fuel for wildfires as well. Combustible gases can be produced when waste chemicals are combined. These fumes can then cause waste heaps to catch fire, which might start wildfires. The harmful particles that are released as a result of these fires can contaminate our drinking water and groundwater and can be ingested.
Dumping lowers property value. Criminal activity may be drawn to illegal waste sites. The stench and ugliness of natural environments might discourage tourists, economic growth, and investment.
Taxpayers pay for the cleanup process because it frequently falls on the shoulders of municipal and state governments.
What can you do?
To reduce the amount of trash that is illegally disposed of, awareness is essential.
You can report illegal dumping to your local police department or on the website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
If a location nearby is becoming a dumping ground, plan a volunteer cleaning. People are less likely to be tempted to throw trash on the property when it is cleaner.
Spread the recycling message and put it into practice. Recycling can lessen the problem of improperly disposed waste, which might result from an excess of rubbish.
If others are dumping trash on your land, post signs that read “No Dumping” or “No Trespassing”. Using surveillance cameras and locking dumpsters at night are other options that you can try.
Inquire about bulk trash pickup from your local trash agency if you have extra waste that has to be disposed of.
Need to rent a dumpster?
The difficulty of locating a place to dispose waste after a home or industrial project can be avoided by simply giving us a call at 833-722-3867! Visit us at dumpsternearmeqc.com to learn more about the services we provide.
