Community Outreach and Involvement


	Illegal Dumping Prevention Toolkit: Community Outreach and Involvement
	Contents Community Programs Effective Outreach & Education	Community Programs Community programs established to organize special waste cleanup events and support community-oriented policing have proven effective in addressing illegal dumping problems. The focus of any community involvement effort should be to teach residents what can be done to prevent illegal dumping, how and why they should get involved, and who to contact for assistance or to report an incident. In some areas, organized community groups serve as the main catalyst for information exchange and involvement among residents. Community Events Organized events to collect and properly dispose of illegally dumped materials, such as tire collections, "Clean Sweeps," and cleanup days, often involve resources provided by government or industry and the efforts of local residents. Case Studies Phoenix, Arizona. The city established an illegal dumping prevention program in 1990 that involves public education, citizen involvement, dedicated local prosecution, convenient waste drop-off sites, and free disposal for small residential waste loads. Project HALT (Help Attack Littering and Trashing) uses citizen volunteers to monitor high-frequency dumping areas and aid in reporting and prosecuting illegal dumpers. In 1996 and 1997, the program cleaned up over 15,000 tons of waste, and officers issued over 165 citations. Contact Juan Martin, Public Works Department, (602) 256-5600. Tupelo, Mississippi. Upon request, the city will drop off a truck for use over a weekend by residents to dispose of wastes generated during home improvements or community cleanup projects. Although this program does not allow for disposal of tires or industrial and household hazardous wastes, the city sponsors separate events for those materials. The city covers the cost of waste transportation and disposal. Contact Boyd Yarbrough, Department of Public Works, (601) 841-6435. Clifton, New Jersey. The city’s Clean Communities Program consists of events and programs intended to clean up and maintain areas subject to dumping or littering. The program is funded by a state grant program that receives money from a tax on businesses that sell 15 types of products that often end up as litter. Over 150 businesses; all the city’s schools; and civic, youth, and neighborhood organizations contribute to the program. Clifton’s program has had a significant, visible impact on the cleanliness of city streets, parks, and neighborhoods. In 1991 and 1992, the amount of litter collected decreased from 422 to 358 tons, and over 3,000 miles of streets and 175 acres of parkland were cleaned up. Contact Alfred DuBois, Department of Public Works, (973) 470-2239. Detroit, Michigan. The "Tire Roundup" sponsored by the Southwest Detroit Environmental Visions (SDEV) community organization encourages local residents to get involved in cleaning up scrap tire piles. Using a grant from Wayne County, SDEV pays local residents to bring illegally dumped tires to designated drop-off locations. In 1995, SDEV offered 25 cents per tire, and over 8,000 tires were collected. A waste hauler transported tires from drop-off locations to a tire shredder that processed the tires at no charge. A local bank donates $3,000 to cover the cost of disposal. Contact Kathy Milberg, SDEV, (313) 842-1961. Community-Oriented Policing Community-oriented policing involves joint efforts of residents and police to identify, analyze, and develop solutions to crime-related problems, including illegal dumping. Although the implementation strategy depends on conditions within local law enforcement agencies and the community, the following core components are common: Open communication and cooperation Receptiveness to change Commitment Trust Effective community-oriented policing requires officers to (1) communicate how residents can assist in crime prevention and (2) develop cooperative relationships with residents. Police can create such interaction by holding "beat meetings," speaking to neighborhood groups, participating in business and civic events, and conducting educational programs for school children. Residents in turn voice their concerns about neighborhood crime. They also assist police by reporting crimes and identifying offenders whenever possible, participating in police-sponsored programs, and soliciting police involvement at community functions. Over 10,000 cities in the United States have established community policing programs. For information on grants to establish community policing programs, contact United States Department of Justice Office of Community Policing Services 1100 Vermont Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20530 (202) 514-2058 Case Studies Chicago, Illinois. The police department’s community policing program employs a community-based approach. Police officers and residents meet monthly at "beat meetings" to identify neighborhood crime issues and develop strategies. The information provided to the police helps officers to identify patterns of illegal dumping and prioritize surveillance operations. Department of Environment staff participate by providing information specific to illegal dumping at the meetings. Wallet cards and refrigerator magnets are distributed that display a hotline number to call in order to report illegal dumping crimes. Contact Alexandra Holt, Department of Environment, (312) 744-3172. Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Citizens Task Force on Neighborhoods reviewed city policies on illegal dumping and made recommendations to improve community policing, strengthen penalties, wage a public relations campaign to market properties subject to dumping, and establish drop-off sites for bulk waste items. As a result, the city provides "Sparkle Wagons" to residents free of charge to haul loads of waste to a landfill. Several other recommendations were implemented by the City Council, including forming a special team of nine officers to attend neighborhood meetings and visit schools to speak with students. Contact the Department of Public Works, (423) 757-5300. Crimestoppers. Several communities with persistent illegal dumping problems choose to highlight a particular dumping incident as the "Crime of the Week" in local Crimestoppers programs. The case is highlighted on television, radio, and the Internet, providing pertinent details about the crime and asking the public for help in identifying suspects or vehicles that may have been involved. A toll-free number is provided, and callers can remain anonymous. If a tip leads to an arrest, the caller providing the information is eligible for a cash reward. Hundreds of Crimestoppers programs exist throughout the United States, and regional directories of local programs are available. Contact Crimestoppers International, Inc., P.O. Box 30413, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87190-0413 or http://www.c-s-i.org. Effective Outreach and Education Many argue that the most important component of a successful illegal dumping prevention program is public education. However, outreach and education programs are only effective when the behavior of a target audience changes or is sustained. In this regard, designing and implementing effective outreach and education programs for illegal dumping prevention are similar to marketing campaigns for consumer products or services. Target Audience Identification of a target audience that needs to change or sustain its behavior is the first step. It is important to begin by designing an approach tailored to the specific characteristics of the target audience. An audience assessment can determine which information media are appropriate and the best ways to explain concepts as well as the need for multilingual information. Involving members of the target audience greatly assists in development of outreach materials. A Simple Message A clear, simple message to which the target audience can relate must be developed. The message can be as simple as "No Dumping," "Nail A Dumper," or "Keep It Clean." The message can then be supported with information convincing the audience to comply, including Listing fines and penalties Indicating that areas are under surveillance Showing photographs of dump sites Quantifying the costs of cleaning up sites and the resulting impacts on local taxes Listing proper disposal sites and practices. Communication Use of various methods to disseminate information will ensure that the message is received by the target audience. Media that can be used include newspapers, magazines, flyers, billboards, posters, television, radio, the Internet, wallet cards, and refrigerator magnets. An integrated approach involving different media can maximize the impact of the message. Confirmation Soliciting feedback on outreach and education efforts assists in continuation of current programs and development of future efforts. For example, callers to a 24-hour hotline can be asked how they heard about the system. The responses can be documented and evaluated to determine which advertising methods are reaching residents. Available Resources If communication service providers are made aware of the purpose of a community outreach project, they may be willing to donate printing services, graphics services, air time, supplies, or equipment. In addition, employees of local industries may offer their time and talents to support awareness and prevention programs. Keep America Beautiful, Inc., helps communities to prevent littering, encourage community beautification, and generate ongoing support for integrated waste management. Keep America Beautiful, Inc. 1010 Washington Boulevard Stamford, CT 06901 (203) 323-8987 http://www.kab.org In addition, inexpensive labor to develop and conduct community outreach efforts can be found at local universities. The Environmental Careers Organization and the Americorps program provide low-cost student interns involved in environmental studies for projects. The Environmental Careers Organization 179 South Street Boston, MA 02111 (617) 426-4375 http://www.eco.org Americorps/VISTA Program Corporation for National Service 1201 New York Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20525 (800) 942-2677 http://www.cns.gov Case Studies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Phillapride uses a multimedia approach to publicize illegal dumping prevention and enforcement activities. A booklet titled "Organizing Your Community Against Illegal Dumping" that outlines methods for building teams to combat illegal dumping was developed and distributed. Television and radio spots are used to announce ways for local residents to prevent and report dumping, such as calling a 24-hour hotline. In addition, information specifically targeting children is published, including an educational comic book series for schools called "The Untrashables." Contact Mark Vigiano, Phillapride, (215) 575-2210. North-Central Texas. The Council of Governments established a comprehensive awareness campaign under a grant from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. A toll-free, 24-hour hotline is used to forward citizen complaints to local law enforcement officials for response. Complaints can also be submitted electronically via the Internet. The program’s slogan is "If You See It, Report It," and the program has several educational aspects, including law enforcement training and a "Top Ten Most Least Wanted" list of illegal dump sites. Contact Heather Lauden, Council of Governments, (817) 695-9239. Akron, Ohio. Keep Akron Beautiful solicits the involvement and support of local industry for illegal dumping prevention and awareness programs. Members of the "Clean Team" visit businesses to distribute anti-littering information and educational materials. In addition, "Seals of Approval" are presented to businesses that demonstrate exemplary environmental stewardship. The program encourages individual resident involvement in littering prevention. Contact Paula Davis, Keep Akron Beautiful, Inc., (330) 375-2116. Franklin County, Ohio. The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio’s "Nail a Dumper" program has a 24-hour hotline, a dedicated investigation team, a strong prosecution record, and effective outreach efforts. Over 5,000 complaints have been received, with nearly 8 percent resulting in criminal charges being filed, and over 1,000 cases have been prosecuted. The program’s extensive education efforts and cleanup projects are effective in involving schoolchildren, residents, and companies. An Environmental Investigations Workshop for other law enforcement agencies in Ohio was developed based on actual experiences of the county prosecutor and sheriff. The "Nail a Dumper" program involves cooperation among the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Department, Board of Health, and City of Columbus Refuse Department. Contact Mitzi Kline, Franklin County Board of Health, (614) 462-3160.