Part of the responsibility of the Cambria County Solid Waste Authority
is the investigation, documentation, and elimination of illegal dumping
activities within the county. The CCSWA Compliance Officer, Michael
Martin, is in charge of finding illegal dump sites, monitoring their
activity, and proposing clean-up needs for individual sites. With
the help of local municipalities, Mike intends to find and eliminate
all illegal dump sites and stop illegal dumping throughout the County.
What
is Illegal Dumping?
Illegal dumping is the disposal
of wastes in an area where it is unpermitted, often to avoid
paying the costs for proper disposal. This type of dumping usually
takes place along roadsides in remote areas or just outside
of neighborhoods. Most people will not travel very far to illegally
dump.
What
is in an Illegal Dump?
The most common materials found
in illegal dumps are household trash and large items - such
as appliances, furniture and tires. Construction and demolition
wastes are also common in dumps.
Why
is Illegal Dumping a problem? Illegal dumping
is a problem not only because it spoils the beauty of Cambria
County's forested roads, but also can create serious health
risks. Children may use these areas to "explore",
which may lead to physical harm (nails and sharp metal) and
chemical harm (car batteries, cleaners and the like). Chemicals
may also leach out of these dumps into drinking water supplies,
as well as pollute surface water such as streams and ponds.
These sites
can also be harmful to wildlife that live around them. Animals
may consume chemicals found in dumps, or become trapped amongst
the mangled mess of tires, plastic containers and metal scrap.
Another major
problem associated with illegal dumps is fire. Dumps are sometimes
lit on fire, or spontaneously combust. Burning of materials
found in dumps can lead to the release of harmful chemicals
into the air, only to rain down on other parts of the area.
Dump fires can easily spread to their surroundings as well.
What
is being done about Illegal Dumping?
The Cambria County Solid Waste
Authority, in conjunction with 63 local municipalities, are
trying to get a handle on illegal dumping in the County. Nearly
every municipality has an area where illegal dumping is taking
place. These areas have been mapped and are being watched by
the CCSWA Compliance Officer and other agencies. The CCSWA will
be using various types of surveillance
equipment at these sites to monitor and catch violators
in the act, and also to help prosecute these violators. Manpower
and equipment will be used to try to clean up some of the common
places that material is dumped.
What
can WE do about Illegal Dumping?
Illegal dumps seem to only attract
more and more waste. Some think that because there is already
material on the ground, it must be ok for them to add to it.
It is not. If you know of an illegal dump and see persons
using the site, do not approach. Call the Cambria County Solid
Waste Authority or your local law enforcement immediately.
Reports can be anonymous, and we will act on every tip we
receive.
