The illegal disposal of household and construction wastes on the land and in our waters creates problems for the environment, for people and their quality of life, as well as for fish and wildlife.

Paints, motor oil, and other hazardous materials have been carelessly tossed with other household wastes into state forests and state parks. Their contaminants leach into groundwater supplies and in some cases directly into exceptional value streams. The pollution is detrimental to fish, and wildlife suffers when encountering objects like broken glass which are not natural to their environment.

A red-shouldered hawk, pictured at right with wildlife handler Jennifer Brackbill at the Shavers Creek Environmental Center in Huntingdon County, was struck by a car. Due to the extent of its injuries, it will not be able to return to its natural habitat. Hawks are sometimes hit when they prey on the rodents that feed in litter along roadways.

Mosquitoes find breeding grounds in pools of stagnant water where tires and household containers are abandoned in otherwise pristine forests. The insects are known to carry diseases that are life-threatening to humans.

In addition to these direct impacts on the health of humans, the environment, and wildlife, illegal trash dumping has additional negative effects.

Taxes pay for countless hours of wages for state employees to remove the trash and to pick up the tab for proper disposal. Tourism, which generates millions of dollars in revenue in the Commonwealth, is impacted as well, as scenic vistas are turned into waste lands or are eliminated, and littered roadways detract from Pennsylvania's great natural beauty.

Law enforcement personnel spend many hours fighting littering and illegal dumping, warning individuals about the laws, and prosecuting cases in court.

In Pennsylvania, individuals can face fines imposed by nearly every branch of government, from local and state police and local code enforcement officers, to the enforcement by fish and game officers, and DCNR and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) personnel.

In Pennsylvania, fines of up to $300 can be imposed for violations of littering laws under the vehicle and crimes codes. Lands along the waterways of the Commonwealth as well as the waterways are protected from violators with penalties up to $100 under the Fish and Boat Code. Under the Game and Wildlife Code, fines up to $300, which can be doubled for subsequent offenses and additionally assessed for $10 for each item, are imposed. And, under PA Code Title 25, penalties as high as $25,000 can be imposed upon persons hauling waste to any site other than a DEP permitted facility.

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