Aug. 21, 2008 Sims seeks stronger enforcement of King County’s illegal dumping rules Cleaning up illegal dumping costs King County agencies more than $2.2 million per year, and Executive Ron Sims has proposed new rules that would make it easier for the county to punish those who violate the law. “Studies show jurisdictions that have strengthened their response to illegal dumping through a stronger civil citation process and increased enforcement see significant decreases in illegal dumping over time,” Sims said. “We simply need better tools to fight illegal dumping.” Illegal dumping is a continuing problem for agencies, businesses, and the general public who find yard waste, appliances, car bodies, and other waste dumped on their property and on public roads and rights-of-way. From leftover construction materials, to old appliances, to junked cars and even hazardous waste, illegal dumping threatens public health by polluting streams, rivers and lakes, by posing as a physical hazard to children at play and by creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rodents and other vermin.
“It is in everyone’s best interest to bolster the rules related to illegal dumping,” Sims said. “King County is a land of incredible natural beauty, and there is no place on our landscape for this kind of reckless disregard for public health and for our environmental health. “This ordinance will simplify citation procedures and clarify the citation appeal process, saving time and resources without affecting due process,” he said. King County Council Member Reagan Dunn, whose Ninth District includes both suburban and rural areas in southeast King County, is sponsoring the legislation as a necessary response to a growing threat. "Illegal dumping is a serious problem that affects our quality of life and the environment we live in. As a resident of rural King County, I drive by piles of garbage, refrigerators, and old microwaves every day,” Dunn said. “This legislation will give us the tools we need to punish illegal dumpers who get caught and provide a deterrent to those who would consider it." The ordinance also: • Gives King County the authority to seek restitution payment from illegal dumpers, half of which would go to affected land owners;
• Allows all county agencies to enforce illegal dumping laws for a more efficient and effective response; and
• Allows agencies to charge re-inspection fees when violations are not corrected within a specified time limit. Sims convened the Illegal Dumping Task Force (IDTF) in 2003 to improve coordination of the county’s interagency response to reports of illegal dumping, to reduce incidents of illegal dumping and make the county’s enforcement system more effective. The IDTF brought together many agencies that are involved in handling incidents of illegal dumping, including the Department of Development & Environmental Services, the Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Public Health – Seattle & King County, the Department of Transportation, the King County Sheriff’s Office, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program. Related Information Report illegal dumping King County Illegal Dumping – Task Force Report and Recommendations King County
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