What are illegal dumps and tire piles?
An illegal dump is a site where wastes are disposed of without a permit. Illegal dumping is also called open dumping, fly dumping, or midnight dumping when materials are dumped in open areas, from vehicles along roads, or late at night. A legal, sanitary landfill is a land disposal site for non-hazardous household solid waste, where the waste is spread in compacted layers. Human exposure to landfill gas can cause respiratory problems, central nervous system damage, and cancer. Illegally dumped materials can include construction waste, automobiles, auto parts, scrap tires, appliances, furniture, and medical waste. Scrap tires and bulky items may be illegally dumped because they are banned from landfills and their proper disposal may be expensive. An illegal dump can also contain any toxic chemicals or hazardous materials that someone chooses to discard. Illegal dumps can cause not only the same human health risks as landfills, but also other health threats. Rodents, insects, and other d
