Post by bchutchens on Apr 18, 2009 18:47:06 GMT -8
ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC
EFFECTS OF ILLEGAL DUMPING
by Project Green Sweep
www.ilgard.ohiou.edu/em/environmental_ed/greensweep/FactSheets/EffectsofDumping.pdf
Environmental.
Illegal dumping can disrupt natural processes on
land and in the water. Dumping can interfere
with proper drainage of runoff. Areas are more
susceptible to flooding when waste blocks
ravines, creeks, culverts, and drainage basins. In
rural areas, burning at dump sites can cause
forest fires and severe erosion as fires burn away
trees and undergrowth. The run-off from
improper disposal of toxic substances such as
motor oil or household cleansers can
contaminate lakes, streams, and drinking water
supplies.
Dumping also has a negative impact on plants
and wildlife. Many birds and small animals die
after ingesting or becoming entangled in debris.
Fish and other aquatic species are killed when
decomposing litter and food wastes in streams
deplete oxygen supplies in the water. Refuse in
a stream can also clog fish spawning areas.
Dumped appliances are not only an eyesore, but
can also release toxic chemicals. Refrigerators
and freezers may release chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC) into the air, harming the earth’s protective
ozone layer. Improperly discarded appliances
built before 1979 may also leak polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) into the soil. According to the
EPA, PCBs can cause cancer, reproductive
failure and hormone imbalances in animals and
humans.
Health.
Appliances are a special danger for small
children. Older refrigerators and freezers may
look like fun forts or houses to kids, but they can
easily become trapped inside. Other physical
hazards to both children and adults include the
risk of cuts and infections from protruding nails
and sharp edges. There may also be less
noticeable chemical hazards from toxic fluids or
dust.
Sites which include scrap tires are ideal breeding
grounds for mosquitoes. The insects can breed
100 times faster than normal in the warm,
stagnant water which collects inside the tires.
Some of the mosquitoes can carry life threatening
diseases such as Dengue Fever,
Yellow Fever, West Nile and Encephalitis. Other
insects, rodents, and additional animals attracted
to dumps may also pose health risks.
As mentioned previously, illegal dumps are also
frequent sites for fire, either by spontaneous
combustion or arson. The fires are extremely
dangerous for those living in the area and
especially for the fire fighters responsible for
putting out the flames. Dumps can contain old
aerosol cans or gas cans which can explode.
Discarded chemicals from households and farms
can also give off toxic smoke.
Economic.
The presence of illegal dumps results in a
decrease of neighborhood property values.
The costs faced by local governments
to continually clean up illegal dump
sites are significant. Some areas have
spent up to several million dollars
each year for clean up, hauling, and
disposal activities. The expense can then be
passed to residents in the form of higher service
fees or property taxes.
Information for this fact sheet was compiled by Project Green Sweep using documents from the EPA
(www.epa.gov/region5/dmpguide.htm), Keep America Beautiful (www.kab.org), and the Athens City-County Health
Department (www.seorf.ohiou.edu/~xx100/mosquito.htm).
Project Green Sweep, funded by the Ohio EPA Environmental Education Fund, is a citizen’s campaign against illegal
dumping in Scioto County.
So is it bad or illegal to dump your yard clippings in our forests?
Well, yes it is illegal.
And most would consider it bad as well. The chemicals, including pesticides and fungicides that are often used on our lawns, can have damaging effects on the fragile forest environment. Many species of plants found in our yards are not native to the area and can be detrimental to other plants found in the woods. How often do you find dandelions growing out in the forest? Usually these are transported by humans in one form or another. There are many practical and legal ways to dispose of your yard debris. You can send it with the local garbage company. You can compost in your own yard, or you can haul it to the local recycling center where they will make mulch out of it. There is no reason to haul it to the woods.
No matter what your purpose in the woods is, dumping is not okay, legal, or appreciated in the forest. Do not bring anything to the woods to dump. Our national and state lands are beautiful just the way they are.
Here are a few pictures of illegal dumping. Maybe you have some good ones, please post them for all of us to see. Thanks.
If you witness littering or illegal dumping:
Get the license plate and make & model of the vehicle and call the Washington State Department of Ecology's Litter Hotline at 1-866-LITTER1 (1-866-548-8371). Or just call 911 and tell them it is a nonemergency.
www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/em_fs07_208.pdf
Here is what the EPA says-
www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/illegal_dumping/downloads/il-dmpng.pdf
( Yard clippings in children's area at Jones Creek ORV area WA)
i62.servimg.com/u/f62/13/12/15/79/illega10.jpg
[/img]EFFECTS OF ILLEGAL DUMPING
by Project Green Sweep
www.ilgard.ohiou.edu/em/environmental_ed/greensweep/FactSheets/EffectsofDumping.pdf
Environmental.
Illegal dumping can disrupt natural processes on
land and in the water. Dumping can interfere
with proper drainage of runoff. Areas are more
susceptible to flooding when waste blocks
ravines, creeks, culverts, and drainage basins. In
rural areas, burning at dump sites can cause
forest fires and severe erosion as fires burn away
trees and undergrowth. The run-off from
improper disposal of toxic substances such as
motor oil or household cleansers can
contaminate lakes, streams, and drinking water
supplies.
Dumping also has a negative impact on plants
and wildlife. Many birds and small animals die
after ingesting or becoming entangled in debris.
Fish and other aquatic species are killed when
decomposing litter and food wastes in streams
deplete oxygen supplies in the water. Refuse in
a stream can also clog fish spawning areas.
Dumped appliances are not only an eyesore, but
can also release toxic chemicals. Refrigerators
and freezers may release chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC) into the air, harming the earth’s protective
ozone layer. Improperly discarded appliances
built before 1979 may also leak polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) into the soil. According to the
EPA, PCBs can cause cancer, reproductive
failure and hormone imbalances in animals and
humans.
Health.
Appliances are a special danger for small
children. Older refrigerators and freezers may
look like fun forts or houses to kids, but they can
easily become trapped inside. Other physical
hazards to both children and adults include the
risk of cuts and infections from protruding nails
and sharp edges. There may also be less
noticeable chemical hazards from toxic fluids or
dust.
Sites which include scrap tires are ideal breeding
grounds for mosquitoes. The insects can breed
100 times faster than normal in the warm,
stagnant water which collects inside the tires.
Some of the mosquitoes can carry life threatening
diseases such as Dengue Fever,
Yellow Fever, West Nile and Encephalitis. Other
insects, rodents, and additional animals attracted
to dumps may also pose health risks.
As mentioned previously, illegal dumps are also
frequent sites for fire, either by spontaneous
combustion or arson. The fires are extremely
dangerous for those living in the area and
especially for the fire fighters responsible for
putting out the flames. Dumps can contain old
aerosol cans or gas cans which can explode.
Discarded chemicals from households and farms
can also give off toxic smoke.
Economic.
The presence of illegal dumps results in a
decrease of neighborhood property values.
The costs faced by local governments
to continually clean up illegal dump
sites are significant. Some areas have
spent up to several million dollars
each year for clean up, hauling, and
disposal activities. The expense can then be
passed to residents in the form of higher service
fees or property taxes.
Information for this fact sheet was compiled by Project Green Sweep using documents from the EPA
(www.epa.gov/region5/dmpguide.htm), Keep America Beautiful (www.kab.org), and the Athens City-County Health
Department (www.seorf.ohiou.edu/~xx100/mosquito.htm).
Project Green Sweep, funded by the Ohio EPA Environmental Education Fund, is a citizen’s campaign against illegal
dumping in Scioto County.
So is it bad or illegal to dump your yard clippings in our forests?
Well, yes it is illegal.
And most would consider it bad as well. The chemicals, including pesticides and fungicides that are often used on our lawns, can have damaging effects on the fragile forest environment. Many species of plants found in our yards are not native to the area and can be detrimental to other plants found in the woods. How often do you find dandelions growing out in the forest? Usually these are transported by humans in one form or another. There are many practical and legal ways to dispose of your yard debris. You can send it with the local garbage company. You can compost in your own yard, or you can haul it to the local recycling center where they will make mulch out of it. There is no reason to haul it to the woods.
No matter what your purpose in the woods is, dumping is not okay, legal, or appreciated in the forest. Do not bring anything to the woods to dump. Our national and state lands are beautiful just the way they are.
Here are a few pictures of illegal dumping. Maybe you have some good ones, please post them for all of us to see. Thanks.
If you witness littering or illegal dumping:
Get the license plate and make & model of the vehicle and call the Washington State Department of Ecology's Litter Hotline at 1-866-LITTER1 (1-866-548-8371). Or just call 911 and tell them it is a nonemergency.
www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/em_fs07_208.pdf
Here is what the EPA says-
www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/illegal_dumping/downloads/il-dmpng.pdf
( Yard clippings in children's area at Jones Creek ORV area WA)
i62.servimg.com/u/f62/13/12/15/79/illega10.jpg
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