Take a Stand For Your Land: Combat Illegal Dumping

Illegal dumping is a continual challenge for Iowa. Across the state, communities and rural areas have chronic illegal dumping sites, where everything from refrigerators to tires is discarded. Most commonly, these items are dumped along roadsides, ditches and fields, wooded areas and remote sites. Besides costing Iowa taxpayers millions of dollars each year for cleanup, illegal dumping also poses a threat to both the environment and public health and safety. Objects dumped along roadways can be hazardous to motorists. Illegally dumped hazardous materials can seep into the ground and eventually into water sources or directly into streams and lakes. Dumping sites can become breeding grounds for insects and rodents. And, they diminish the beauty and quality of life near these areas.

Illegal Dumping Campaign Resources Illegal Dumping Pilot Project Final Report "A Community Guide to Combat Illegal Dumping" Customizable materials

Many people who illegally dump know it is illegal, but are indifferent to the problem. Others who illegally dump may not be aware of where to take their items for proper disposal or don't consider the costs associated with cleaning up their illegally dumped trash.

The penalty for illegal dumping in Iowa is as high as $5,000 per day, yet illegal dumping continues as it is difficult to catch and prosecute illegal dumpers.

In 2004, the DNR contracted with Keep Iowa Beautiful to create a pilot program for combating illegal dumping in the state. Under a competitive process, the pilot program was implemented in three Iowa counties of differing sizes and geography (Appanoose, Boone, and Linn). A central message was developed using several communication vehicles as delivery methods. Best practices learned from this effort are shared here for use by all Iowa communities and counties.

The main purpose of the illegal dumping pilot program was to encourage and assist citizens to report illegal dumping, which will in turn assist law enforcement agencies in increasing illegal dumping arrests and convictions. One of the most significant findings learned from the pilot program is the importance of community and county agencies working together to track and monitor illegal dumping. Also to effectively fight the problem, illegal dumpers must believe there are consequences for their actions. Reporting, enforcement and publicized convictions are all vital to demonstrate that illegal dumping is a crime that will not be tolerated.

Each of the of the pilot counties developed local task force committees to lead and manage their programs and developed and implemented strategies to reduce illegal dumping. Activities included newspaper and radio ads, bumper stickers and windshield decals, news articles, posters, brochures, displays at fairs and community events and more. The counties also developed illegal dumping tracking/monitoring databases to be used in partnership by investigating agencies including law enforcement, secondary roads, county public health departments, etc.

Counties and communities interested in developing their own illegal dumping prevention programs can access "A Community Guide to Combat Illegal Dumping," as well as customizable template materials including posters, flyers, brochures, radio and newspapers ads listed below. In order to save the templates with local information, users will need Acrobat 5.0 or newer. Communities can also work directly with a print shop (for bumper stickers, flyers, etc.) or a media outlet (newspaper) to make the necessary changes.

• Illegal Dumping Pilot Project Final Report
• "A Community Guide to Combat Illegal Dumping"
• Customizable "Take A Stand For Your Land" materials (all in PDF file format):
  Please note that some of these files are very large.
  • Bookmark flyer
  • Bumper sticker
  • Disposal tips flyer
  • 20" x 16" poster (18.73 MB)
  • 16" x 20" tire poster (10.89 MB)
  • Educational brochure
  • Hotline business card
  • Black and white newspaper ad (9.96 MB)
  • 8.5" x 11" color newspaper insert (3.08 MB)
  • Windshield decal
• Radio scripts
  This PDF file offers three different scripts for radio spots. These scripts can be used to create your own radio spot.

Please Note: The DNR has also produced radio spots, but has not purchased national talent rights for the "Take A Stand For Your Land" radio advertisements. If you are interested in using these radio spots, you will need to pay talent rights to the production company for your use of the ads. For a customized quote and to listen to the ads, please call or e-mail:

Karen Crowley
Production Coordinator
Soundscapes
(501) 661-1765
karen@soundscapes.com

Please be ready to provide the following information in order for them to provide you with a quote:

1. Your contact information
2. Where your radio ads will be run (talent costs vary by region covered)
3. General use information - how long campaign will run

DNR Contact
Tom Anderson
(515) 281-8623
Tom.Anderson@dnr.iowa.gov