Combat Illegal Dumping with 311/CRM Software
Many cities and local governments across the United States have seen an uptick in the volume of illegal dumping during the pandemic. People have been spending more time at home and embarking on new renovation projects, leading to more waste. Illegal dumping is the disposal of trash generated at one location and disposed of at another location without legal permission. People are willing to make their literal trash someone else's problem
Is There a Difference Between Littering and Illegal Dumping?
Local governments usually distinguish between littering and illegal dumping. The difference is determined by the type and volume of waste. For example, improperly disposing of a small amount of typical household garbage, such as throwing an empty beverage bottle onto the side of the road, is littering. Dumping a larger volume of household waste, such as bags full of garbage or an old refrigerator, would qualify as illegal dumping.
The type of waste is also relevant. Illegally disposing of a toxic chemical or hazardous item, such as a car battery, may constitute dumping, even though the volume or size of the waste material is relatively small.
Where Are Illegal Dumps Found?
Illegal dumps are found in isolated locations in both rural and urban areas. Most dumpsites include dumping yard waste, construction/remodeling debris, appliances, tires and other garbage in alleys, dumpsters, and vacant lots. Violators are looking to avoid paying trash disposal costs or are unaware of how to properly dispose of items.
What Qualifies as Illegal Dumping?
Illegal dumping usually involves one of the following examples:
dumping waste on public or private property that is not licensed or permitted to receive waste
dumping waste, without a license or permit, into sewers or waterways, or
allowing another to dump waste on one's land, without being licensed to receive such waste.
Cleanups are Costly for Municipalities
Waste management cleanups conducted by local municipalities are costly, averaging about $600 per ton, or roughly $3,000 per site, and divert tax dollars and staff resources that could be better spent on community infrastructure, parks, or social programs.
Aside from public health hazards, such as attracting rodents and mosquitoes, illegal dumps negatively impact property values. Socially, they send a message that no one cares about the community or property.
What Local Governments can do to prevent Illegal Dumping
If illegal dumping is occurring at residences or commercial properties in your municipality, below are some suggestions for preventative measures:
Add locks to dumpsters
Put up "No Dumping" and "No Trespassing" signs
Install security cameras
Encourage citizens to call and report to 311/CRM
Automated follow-ups for open service requests
Modern 311 systems can help make your municipality a safer, more enjoyable place to live. Citizens can use the CRM/311 system to report illegal dumping scenarios. You can also track where all of those service requests are coming from with GIS mapping to proactively solve the issue.
Manually following up on every service request is virtually impossible though. Choosing a CRM/311 system that automates the follow-up process with internal agency staff until work is designated complete can save time and create efficiency..
It is equally as necessary to let the requesting citizen know that work is complete. Citizens can check the status of their issue at their convenience and receive real-time push notifications that proactively keep them up-to-date as their issue is resolved. Showing citizens that the municipalities are responsive to their needs can measure an effective government. Comcate’s software allows you to easily follow up with the citizen when the work is complete to confirm that your administration has acted on their request.
Learn how Comcate can help make government delivery simple, and offer a modern digital experience to help you increase transparency, efficiency, and performance across your departments. If you have any questions about implementing our software, please schedule a meeting with our team, or call us directly at (415) 632-1248.