New report reveals states that illegally dump junk the most. Does WA have trashy behavior?
Nobody likes to see it. One day you may be walking through a park or even driving down the freeway, and you catch a glimpse of a pile of food wrappers and plastic cups, or an abandoned mattress or scratched-up table.
While many of us like to think we’re environmentally conscious when it comes to how we dispose of our trash, a new report sheds light on how many Washingtonians properly dispose of their most unwanted garbage.
Pest control website The Pest Dude released survey results for a nationwide study on illegal trash dumping, and the Evergreen State was found to be not as eco-friendly as you might think. About 20% of Washington residents admit that they had illegally dumped unwanted trash like mattresses or food waste in plain sight.
The report collected answers from 3,000 respondents from all 50 states. Over half of people reported seeing a neighbor illegally dumping items outside.
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It’s not just about the trash laws, though. It’s also about what happens afterwards.
“Illegally dumped trash is a haven for all kinds of unwanted pests and vermin,” Zachary Smith, the owner of The Pest Dude, stated in the report. “Rats, mice, and cockroaches are some of the most common pests that are drawn to illegally dumped trash. These pests can breed and multiply quickly in the piles of garbage, leading to an infestation that can quickly spread to neighboring areas.”
Food waste is by far the most commonly dumped item nationwide, accounting for 57% of deserted trash. Mattresses are the next most common at 17%, followed by TVs at 8%, computers at 6% and finally furniture, washing machines and refrigerators at 4% each.
The states that illegally dump the most are:
Montana – 38%
Delaware – 33%
Hawaii – 33%
In contrast, the states that are most thoughtful about where their trash ends up include:
Colorado – 4%
Oklahoma – 7%
Minnesota – 8%
Where people dump trash
Many people will probably agree that it’s never a good thing to toss emptied food containers out a car window. But illegal dumping is more than just littering on a highway.
According to The Pest Dudes report, over 80% of people get rid of their items illegally do so by placing them in other people’s dumpsters. Then there’s the 9% of people who litter the sidewalk, 4% who leave junk on highways, 4% who toss junk in a river or lake and 2% that unload unwanted items in a parking lot.
WA dumping fines
Residents of Washington state who litter or leave unwanted items where they’re not supposed to can be fined, get jail time or be ordered to pick up their junk, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
You may be subject to penalties or fines if you violate any of these laws:
Throw litter on the highway: $231
Littering less than 1 cubic foot: $103
Litter more than 1 cubic foot, but less than 1 cubic yard: $500
Littering more than 1 cubic yard: between $1,000 and $5,000 and potential jail time
Potentially dangerous litter such as lit cigarette butts: $1,025
In Pierce County, private property or road owners are responsible for removing illegally dumped items on land they own.
To report an instance of illegal dumping, you can fill out a form on Pierce County’s website, or you can call 253-798-4721.
Pierce County transfer stations
In Pierce County, there are six stations you can drop off yard waste, residential garbage and e-waste like TVs and computers. Some stations also accept household hazardous waste. The facilities are:
Anderson Island’s Drop Box Station at 9607 Steffensen Road
Bonney Lake’s Prairie Ridge Drop Box Station at 11710 Prairie Ridge Drive East
Gig Harbor’s Purdy Transfer Station at 14515 54th Ave Northwest
Key Peninsula’s Key Center Drop Box Station at 5900 Key Peninsula Highway
Puyallup’s Hidden Valley Transfer Station at 17925 Meridian Ave East
Tacoma’s Recovery & Transfer Center at 3510 South Mullen St.
Before bringing any items to any of these locations, be sure to check what items they accept at Pierce County’s website.
