Cameras installed through the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Illegal Dump Free PA Surveillance Camera Loan Program recently captured a couple illegally dumping a couch in Michaux State Forest in Franklin County.

They were cited for illegal dumping and were each ordered to pay a $150 fine plus court fees, and perform ten hours of community service. This community service helps give something back to the community who are the ones who suffer most from illegal dumping and littering. 

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful currently has ten sets of cameras at various dumping hot spots and recycling facilities across the state.

So far this year, there were nine convictions as a direct result of the surveillance cameras installed as part of the organization’s Illegal Dump Free PA Program. One additional case resulted in community service instead of a citation. An additional ten cases are pending.

Illegal dumping not only encourages more dumping and is damaging to the environment, but it brings a financial burden to our local municipalities, as they are often the ones left to clean up the mess.

It is also considered illegal dumping, or theft of service, to leave items at recycling facilities that are not accepted as part of their program. Leaving non-acceptable items causes additional work for employees and can potentially contaminate other materials.

Contamination can make otherwise appropriate items unacceptable for recycling, thereby reducing revenue for the municipality.

Over the past few years, many drop off centers across the state have been forced to close due to illegal dumping, impacting services for all who rely on that facility.

212% Increase In Dumping Reports

Illegal Dump Free PA also offers an option to report illegal dumping.

In 2020, the number of illegal dumps reported increased by a huge 212 percent over last year.

The increase in dumping could be a result of temporary suspension of trash hauling, recycling services and special collections of electronics, tires and appliances in the spring and early summer due to the COVID pandemic.

It could also be a result of more people spending time outdoors and visiting remote areas, where dumping is more likely to occur.

The reports identified illegal dumpsites in 50 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Nineteen sites are located on state park, state forest, or game lands.

Household trash was the most commonly reported item found at 71 percent of sites, followed by building materials from renovations and construction (42 percent), and vehicle tires (41 percent).

Surveillance Camera Program

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s PA Surveillance Camera Loan Program is open to municipalities, counties, government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations.

The program includes the loan of a set of three high quality, motion activated, covert security cameras that provide instant wireless transmission of site activity, photo documentation of license plates at speeds of up to 50 MPH, and clear photos of activity day or night, which are key to prosecutions.

To learn more, visit KPB’s Keep It Clean webpage or contact Rob Dubas by sending an email to: rdubas@keeppabeautiful.org. 

Before taking items to any recycling drop-off location, it is best to contact them in advance to verify what is accepted. Visit DEP’s website for a list of County Recycling Coordinators to learn about recycling in your county.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s Electronics Waste website.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

[Posted: December 17, 2020]

12/21/2020