Reminder: Dumping Trash in the Forest is Illegal
Abandoned piles of household garbage, yard waste, discarded appliances, electronics, furniture, old cars, used tires and demolition debris can threaten the health of humans, wildlife and the environment. These open dump sites can be found throughout Lake County in mine holes, party/camp sites, along roadsides on public and private lands. These are illegal disposal sites. If allowed to remain, they often grow larger and attract more dumping by others.
Open dumps create a public nuisance, divert land from more productive uses and depress the value of surrounding land. They can also pose the following health, safety and environmental threats:
- Injury to children playing in or around the dump site
- Contamination of streams, rivers and lakes
- Contamination of soil and groundwater
- Contamination of drinking water wells
- Damage to plant and wildlife habitats
- Disease carried by mosquitoes, flies and rodents
- Fire and explosion
- Decrease in the quality of life to nearby residents and the community
- Deter visitors and tourists (economic loss for our community)
- Costs to local government for investigating and law enforcement, clean up and hauling - costs often passed on to residents via property taxes