Illegal Dumping

Kick-Off Campaign Summary What's Next

Investigations and Arrests



• Hawaii's Illegal Dumping Laws
• Coalition to Stop Illegal Dumping
• Legal Disposal is Easy!
• Report Illegal Dumping
• Litter

Illegal dumping and littering are intolerable. Many individuals, organizations and government agencies have worked for years to conduct cleanups and community education, and to everyone's frustration the dumping and littering continues... and in many cases returns to the same area just cleaned up.

If it were simply a matter of intelligence and commitment, this problem would have been solved years ago by so many who have made the effort.

Worldwide, communities grapple with illegal dumping. Locally, we are looking for solutions through education, enforcement and collaboration. The City runs the transfer stations and convenience centers, handles refuse collection and bulky item pickup. City property is a victim of illegal dumping. The City is committed to addressing the problem by working with other agencies, community leaders, industry and elected officials.

Progress Report

The City has surveyed prevention programs in other states and looked carefully at those with the best track records. Across the board, engaging communities affected by the problem is the most effective means of cleaning up sites and preventing recurrence.

In the fall 2003, the City invited interested parties to join the Coalition to Stop Illegal Dumping. Since then, a definition of the problem has been drafted (see definition below), a concern line for reporting dumping has yielded many cleanups, a survey of public attitudes has been conducted, and a public education campaign is planned for April of this year. The City is also working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pacific Rim Environmental Resource Center to create two investigator positions within the City dedicated to surveillance and enforcement. Other goals include creating an inventory of illegal dump sites on Oahu and funding customized community prevention programs through the coalition.

Illegal dumping is disposal of waste in an unpermitted area. Illegally dumped wastes are primarily nonhazardous materials dumped to avoid disposal fees or the time and effort required for proper disposal.

• construction and demolition waste (drywall, roofing shingles, lumber, bricks, concrete, siding)
• abandoned automobiles, auto parts, scrap tires
• appliances or “white goods”
• furniture
• yard waste
• household trash
• medical waste (potentially hazardous)
• barrels (hazardous)

Sites include abandoned industrial, residential or commercial buildings; vacant lots; public or private property; and infrequently used alleys or roadways. (Coalition members note that frequently used areas are also subject to dumping.) Accessibility and poor lighting make rural roads particularly vulnerable. Illegal dumping occurs at any time, but is more common at night or in the early morning.

Profile of illegal dumpers: (there is no “typical” dumper)

• construction, demolition, remodeling, roofing or landscaping contractors
• waste management companies or general hauling contractors
• operators of transfer stations or junkyards
• automobile repair or tire shops
• scrap collectors
• local residents, do-it-yourselfers

The City & County has adapted this information for Oahu from the EPA Region 5 Illegal Dumping Prevention Guidebook. That resource can be downloaded from www.epa.gov/region5/illegaldumping

We'd like to introduce you to a new song that just seemed to be written to help us educate the public about this problem. "Put Opala in Its Place," written by Angie Baker and performed by the Lava Jam Band, from the Big Island.