Illegal dumping is a big problem in our region. Here’s how local jurisdictions are tackling it. – Greater Greater Washington

Ward 8 Woods cleanup. Image by the author.

Tires, construction debris, furniturethese are among the many things people illegally dump in alleys, roadsides, and other secluded areas all over the Washington region. Local governmental agencies are working together to stop the dumping, and ultimately to curb the environmental damage it causes.

Illegal dumping is not just unsightly. As they degrade, bits of illegally-dumped materials like tires and construction waste are carried into the regions waterways and leach out chemicals that harm aquatic wildlife, said Dawn Hawkins-Nixon, who has worked for 20 years on water resource management at the Prince Georges County Department of Environment.

About 20,000 pounds of trash makes its way into the Anacostia River every year from illegal dumping, according to Matt Robinson, who works at the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). Robinson coordinates with District agencies such as the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the DC Department of Public Works (DPW) to reduce the amount of trash entering local waterways like the Anacostia and the Chesapeake.

The District is working to curb illegal dumping

Automotive shops sometimes hire unlicensed dealers to dispose of tires, says Master Patrol Officer Robert Underwood. He oversees MPDs Environmental Crimes Unit, which is based in the 6th District. Underwood says that instead of paying $4 to dispose of a tire legally, illicit brokers offer to dispose of them for as little as $1 apiece. Most illegal dumping is done by such businesses, he added.

Master Patrol Officer Robert Underwood of the Environmental Crimes Unit. Image by the author.

In 2016, the District established a multi-agency task force called Dump Busters, which has since arrested 197 people involved in illegal dumping. The District of Columbia can fine a person up to $5,000 for violating city ordinances or disposing of waste, and send them to jail for up to 90 days. Fines and jail time can increase for repeat offenders.

Robinson says Dump Busters monitors about 20 different sites in the city, predominately in Wards 7 and 8, where people often complain of dumping. Police have installed hidden cameras to help catch people in the act. The unit got some media attention this past January, when it found the man who dumped about 1,000 tires in a stream bed in Fort Dupont Park in Southeast DC. Underwood says the Districts efforts have been so successful that Several agencies have called me wanting to have their officers trained in how to do this.

We continue to monitor hotspots throughout the city and we want those who think its okay to dump in our neighborhoods, parks, streams, and rivers to know that we are watching, DOEE Director Tom Wells said in a statement.

Local residents are taking action too, like Nathan Harrington, who formed a nonprofit organization called Ward 8 Woods. Harrington and his team work to remove trash from area forests and educate residents about why its important to keep them clean.

Trash and tires pulled from the woods in Ward 8. Image by the author.

While the problem is not new, the government officials interviewed for the article said the strategy for tackling the issue has evolved over time. Governments are relying on multi-agency approaches that consider the regional impact of this issue.

Prince Georges is taking trash seriously

Dumping has long been a problem in Prince Georges County, so much so that its new County Executive Angela Alsobrooks made dealing with litter and trash a key part of her campaign. She has taken a strong stance on the issue, most recently, by sponsoring state-wide legislation to boost penalties for illegal dumping.

Under the new law, perpetrators found guilty of illegally disposing of litter are subject to additional financial penalties and imprisonment that progressively go higher for every subsequent offense. John Erzen, the deputy chief of staff for Alsobrooks, said they want to send the message that illegal dumping is not tolerated, and that those who are caught doing this in the county will face the consequences.

Erzen also said that governments across the region are actively collaborating with one another to catch those involved in disposing of waste illegally, and said Prince Georges County often works closely with the District government to catch perpetrators. Like their neighbors in DC, Prince Georges also employs a multi-agency approach to tackling the problem.

Tiaa Rutherford, the litter reduction program manager for Prince Georges County, says the types of things that are dumped there are the same as those dumped in DC. Aside from tires, people dump shingles, drywall, unwanted toilets, mattresses, furniture, she said.

Thanks to the efforts of the Department of Public Works, Department of Corrections, volunteer groups, and others in Prince Georges, 596,000 lbs. of litter has been collected since 2016 and prevented from going into the Anacostia and other waterways, Rutherford says. This information is tracked on PGCLitterTRAK, the countys litter tracking app.

Not sure how to properly dispose of something? For questions about trash or waste disposal visit Prince Georges Countys website or the DC Department of Public Works page.

Will Schick is an MFA student in Creative Writing at American University. Prior to this, Will served eleven years in the Marine Corps where he did multiple deployments to Afghanistan, and the Asia-Pacific. He is also a polyglot who speaks six languages to varying degrees of fluency (Chinese, Dari, English, French, Korean, and Spanish).

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Illegal dumping is a big problem in our region. Here's how local jurisdictions are tackling it. - Greater Greater Washington