Develop a Local Clean Up Program
Every local government should have as a part of its illegal dumping prevention and enforcement efforts a companion clean-up program. The first step in any clean-up program is to work to identify the responsible party or parties and hold them accountable, forcing them to clean up their illegal dumpsites, and handle the disposal of the waste material.
Each community should also develop a local process for clean-up of illegal dump sites on public properties and right of ways and on private properties where nuisance conditions exist. When a responsible party cannot be identified or located or when the dumpsite causes problems that require prompt clean up, the local government may need to initiate actions to remove the illegally dumped wastes for disposal. State law sets out a procedure that counties and municipalities should follow in cleaning up private properties. The County procedures are found in Miss. Code Ann. 19-5-105 and the Municipal Procedures in Miss. Code Ann. 21-19-11.
The MDEQ grants program also provides financial support that may be used for illegal dump cleanup and disposal costs and for various other issues dealing with solid waste and disposal. Please see the grants information page for more information.
In addition to grant support, many communities have been able to find support for clean- up of illegal dumping and litter from the local inmate population. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) provides a litter inmate program that may help with a community clean-up effort. More information on this program can be found at the MDOT web resource page. In addition, there are some communities that have been able to allow local sentencing to include community service efforts that may also allow for persons to serve their time by cleaning up litter or illegal dumping.
Another opportunity to help support clean-up efforts in local communities is to encourage volunteer groups to assist with collecting or cleaning up illegal dumping and/or litter. Keep Mississippi Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful sponsor an annual “Great America Clean Up” event that helps to get citizens and businesses involved in cleaning up the community. In addition, MDOT sponsors an Adopt-A-Highway program along state highway systems whereby businesses and groups can sponsor a highway section and volunteer to keep that highway section clean.
In addition to these programs, MDEQ provides resources for cleanup of illegal waste tire dumps. Local governments may be eligible for waste tire collection and clean up grants in their area. In addition, MDEQ maintains a waste tire abatement program for larger waste tire dumps where the agency can directly clean up a site with its own contractors. For more information visit the MDEQ waste tire page.
