Illegal trash dumping is the improper disposal of waste in locations where it’s not permitted, often in public areas or on private property without the owner’s consent. This includes dumping trash in alleys, dumpsters, vacant lots, or open spaces. Illegal dumping can have negative impacts on the environment, public health, and property values.
To stop littering and illegal dumping, focus on preventing it, educating the public, and implementing effective solutions. This includes increasing trash and recycling bins, providing convenient waste disposal options, and promoting responsible waste management practices around Greene County and in the industrial park.
The Eutaw Chamber of Commerce and other agencies in the county have organized and hosted annual clean up days to promote awareness through education campaigns to educate the public about the negative impacts of littering and the importance of responsible waste disposal and engage residents in litter prevention efforts.
Enforce littering ordinances:
In an effort to enforce existing laws against littering and to deter unwanted behavior the Greene County IDA has installed cameras on the property. There are signs warning against illegal dumping. The IDA is working in partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health to enforce fines and imprisonment to deter this behavior.
STATE OF ALABAMA LAW CRIMINAL LITTER
Ala. Code 13A-7-29 (1975). The State of Alabama’s law on criminal littering is very clear- anyone who knowingly deposits in any manner litter on any public or private property or in any public or private waters without permission to do so… It goes on to say that litter bearing the name of a person shall constitute a rebuttal presumption that the person whose name appears on the material knowingly deposited the litter.
Criminal littering is a class B misdemeanor. The fine for the first conviction shall be up to $500. The punishment for the second and any subsequent conviction shall include either a fine of up to $1000 and up to 100 hours of community service and the form of picking up literal along highways, roads, streets, public right away, public sidewalks, public walkways, or public waterways or by a fan of not less than $2000 and not more than $3000.
It is the full intent of the Greene County IDA to enforce the state law with the assistance of the Alabama Department of Public Health. For purposes of this article, 3 people have been identified as breaking this law in the Crossroads of America Port and Park. A thorough investigation is underway to determine the person who knowingly dumped food service trash in the industrial park. All three have been contacted by certified first class mail. One person has paid the fine. The other two parties have received a second notice. Their failure to respond to the second notice has forced the IDA to turn this matter over to the legal authorities. Thus their fine will be 10 times more than originally assessed.