Arkansas is

down on the dumps

Let’s get waste

out of the landscape.

Help us stop illegal dumping.

The longer an illegal dump sits unattended,

the harder it is to change people’s habits

about dumping.

So don’t wait! If you know about illegal

dumping activity, call ADEQ’s Solid Waste

Division at 501-682-0581, or contact your

regional solid waste management district

or county sheriff’s office.

Here are some other things you can do to

rid the state of illegal dumps:

Always dispose of trash properly.

Never litter.

Recycle all recyclable waste properly.

Encourage others to subscribe to a

collection service.

Properly dispose of waste tires at a local

waste tire collection center.

Encourage your local elected officials to

enforce illegal dumping restrictions.

Arkansas Department of

Environmental Quality

5301 Northshore Drive

North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317

Helpline: 501-682-0923

Email: info@adeq.state.ar.us

ADEQ: What We Do

The Department of Environmental Quality is

an agency of the state of Arkansas. Our

mission is to protect, enhance and restore the

natural environment for the well-being of all

Arkansans.

We are headquartered

in North Little Rock

and have offices and

inspectors throughout

the state.

Our regulatory

programs for air, water,

solid waste, hazardous

waste, petroleum

storage tanks and mining help protect

Arkansas’s environment. We issue operating

permits for businesses and farms and monitor

for compliance.

We also manage programs to assist

businesses, educators and the public with

regulatory, recycling and other issues. ADEQ

offers loans and tax credits for environmental

improvement projects.

Produced by ADEQ’s Public Outreach and Assistance Division

June 2013

www.adeq.state.ar.us

Take action now!

The lowdown on dumps An illegal dump is any place where solid

waste is placed, deposited, abandoned,

dumped or otherwise disposed of in a manner

that is prohibited by state statutes, rules or

regulations.

Collection services are available in every

Arkansas county, but illegal dumping

remains a serious problem. Some offenders

use dumps to avoid paying for proper

disposal; others may not know about

environmental laws and the harm dumps

pose for everyone.

There are many ways to legally dispose of

trash that protect the environment, including

recycling and disposal in a permitted landfill.

Illegal dumping is a harmful way to dispose

of waste. Sometimes people dump their waste

beside a road or on vacant property. They

may even have the landowner’s permission to

dump, but the dump is still a danger to

people and the environment.

What’s in a dump?

Dumps contain a variety of things people

want to get rid of. In addition to being

unsightly, they often have hazards, like

chemicals or old refrigerators that can lead

to the deaths of children. The following are

a few features of dump inventory:

Household trash

Furniture and appliances

Old automobiles

Automotive waste (oil, tires, parts)

Construction materials

Unused paint and cleaners

Yard waste

Links to resources

Go to adeq.state.ar.us and use the search

box to find the following resources:

Illegal dump complaint form

Waste tire facilities

10 reasons to stop

illegal dumping

1. Dumps present direct health hazards

from vectors (rats, insects, snakes) that

carry diseases or present a physical risk.

2. Dumps give off offensive odors and, if

burned, can pollute the air with toxic

fumes from tires, plastics and other

household waste.

3. Dumps degrade surface water quality

by adding debris to lakes and streams.

Contaminates leach through the soils

into groundwater.

4. Dumps are a major cause of forest fires;

millions of dollars are spent each year

battling such blazes.

5. Dumps lower property values.

6. Dumps severely affect public and

private timberlands.

7. Dumps spoil the beauty of our natural

landscape.

8. Dumps reflect a lack of responsibility

and community pride that can deter new

businesses and industries from locating

or expanding in Arkansas.

9. Cleaning up dumps is expensive.

10. Dumps violate environmental laws. In

criminal cases, the fine for illegal

dumping can be $25,000. In civil cases,

the fine is $10,000.