Searches ----------------------- Phone Directory Word Search Calendar Maps Quick Links --------------------- Airport/Sky Harbor City Jobs Departments A-Z Garbage/Recycling Mayor/City Council Online Services Public Meetings Public Safety What's New Mailing Lists

	Discover Phoenix	Residents	Businesses	City Government	Employment	Youth & Seniors	e-Services	Home

Illegal Dumping Prevention

ILLEGAL DUMPING
IS A CRIME!
REPORT IT!
What is Illegal Dumping?
Who Illegally Dumps?
Why do people Illegally Dump?
Where do people Illegally Dump?
Why is Illegal Dumping a Problem?
Alternatives to Illegal Dumping.
What can you do?
Solid Waste Codes and Ordinances

Back

What is Illegal Dumping?

Illegal dumping beside someone's house

Illegal Dumping is the disposal of waste generated at one location and disposed of at another location without legal permission. Illegal Dumping is the disposal of trash, tires, yard waste, appliances and other waste materials, disposed of without the permission of the property owner and/or the City of Phoenix, in violation of the Phoenix City Code Chapter 27 Section 7. It is also known as "open dumping", "fly by dumping" and "midnight dumping". Materials commonly illegally dumped include:

Yard wastes.

Furniture and appliances.

Auto wastes (tires, oil, antifreeze and parts).

Concrete.

Return to top of Illegal Dumping Prevention

Who Illegally dumps

Mom and Pop businesses.

Commercial businesses.

Residents.

Return to top of Illegal Dumping Prevention

Why do people Illegally dump?

Ignorance of the law.

Don't want to pay landfill fees.

Disrespect for other's property and the environment.

Laziness.

Return to top of Illegal Dumping Prevention

Where do people illegally dump?

Illegal dumping near a school property

Unsecured vacant lots.

Remote spaces.

Public and Private properties.

Alleys and roadways.

Abandoned buildings.

Outskirts of cities.

Poorly lit areas.

Areas with poor accessibility.

If Illegal dumping problems are not reported the problem often grows. Once a pile begins, it often seems to take on a life of its own by inviting other people to pile on additional wastes including hazardous wastes such as household hazardous wastes (batteries, oil, paint, and antifreeze), commercial and industrial wastes, and other regulated or illegal substances.

Return to top of Illegal Dumping Prevention

Why is Illegal Dumping a problem?

Illegal Dumping can cause health hazards, including:

Physical injuries from sharp and pointed objects.

Diseases spreading from rodents and insects (vector control problems).

Fires from flammable materials.

Flooding from material blocking flood control channels and storm drains.

Economic concerns, including:

Decrease in property values.

Expensive to clean ups.

Return to top of Illegal Dumping Prevention

Alternatives to Illegal Dumping- Prevention Programs

For proper disposal of yard wastes, furniture, and appliances, auto parts, tires and concrete: click here for information on the city of Phoenix disposal sites or here for information on quarterly bulk trash service.

For household hazardous waste such as Battery, Oil, Paint and Antifreeze (B.O.P.A.) click here B.O.P.A. collections

What the City of Phoenix is doing to reduce Illegal Dumping?

Illegal Dumping prevention team vehicle with equipment

Residential education: attending Neighborhood Association and Fight Back and Block Watch meetings and Community Events. Call 602-262-7251 to schedule a speaker or an information booth.

Working with interested citizens in the field

Surveillance of reported illegal-dumping sites.

Working jointly with the Phoenix Police Department to identify illegal dumpers.

Bulldozer cleaning illegal dump site in mountain preserve

Clean ups of areas with illegally dumped materials.

Return to top of Illegal Dumping Prevention

What can be done?

Here are some guidelines for what you can do if you observe illegal dumping.

Be our eyes and ears!

Report any illegal dumping to:

Solid Waste Customer Services at 602-262-7251

If dumping is in progress call:

Police Department at 911

Crime Stop at 602-262-6151

ALL INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL. What should you report?

Be able to answer these questions when reporting an incident of illegal dumping.

- What was dumped?

- Who was dumping?

- Have you seen this person or his/her vehicle before?

- Did the suspect have any tools?

- What was the suspect driving?

- How many people were involved?

- What were they doing?

- Where did they dump?

- Date of incident.

- Time of incident.

- Did you take any photographs?

Be A Good Witness! Follow this advice:

- Remain calm

- Be observant

- Maintain a low profile - Don't contact the dumpers yourselves

- Keep your eyes open

- Take notes

Return to top of Illegal Dumping Prevention

Solid Waste Codes and Ordinances

If you would like to know more about the Phoenix City Code and the sections that apply to illegal dumping and solid waste, click here and scroll through the document to find information on illegal dumping. (As of May 2005, Section 27:10 addresses illegal dumping issues.)

Please e-mail us at pwserve@phoenix.gov if you need more information or if you have suggestions for improving this site. Thanks for visiting and helping reduce illegal dumping in Phoenix.

Return to top of Illegal Dumping Prevention