The Dump: A Visual Exploration of Illegal Dumping on Public Lands in Rural America

Abstract

This study examines a commonly overlooked form of criminal activity in the countrysidethe act of illegally dumping piles of waste materials onto public lands. After a visual examination of the various types of debris that are commonly dumped in these areas, consideration is given to the attitudes, motives and rationalizations that lead to the act of dumping. This study attempts to contextualize this activity within the framework of environmental sociology, emphasizing how attitudes about the natural environment, but also how the physical environment itself, can affect the propensity to dump. This study employs the more specific and quantifiable activity of illegal dumping piles of debris onto public lands in order to more clearly distinguish this activity from similar or related criminal enterprises that occur in rural America; however, it is important to note that the deviant element of this activity is central to the investigation. More specifically, the extent to which this criminal activity is viewed (by either the perpetrator or the community) as deviant has bearing on whether the activity is discouraged, whether penalties or alternatives are provided, the extent and frequency of this activity and, arguably, whether or not illegal dumping occurs in the first place. Finally, solutions to the problems posed by illegal dumping are considered in terms of wiser public policy informed by these social scientific findings.

Indiscriminate open space solid waste dumping behaviour of householders in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana: a political economy analysis

“…This conclusion is also supported by figures in Table 6 which indicate that only 22.03% of urban households as compared to 41.35% of rural households were engaged in open dumping of solid wastes. Similar findings have been reported by Crofts et al (2010) and Laundra (2011) as cited in Dladla et al (2016) in rural America where indiscriminate dumping of municipal solid waste is a common challenge. The other independent variables which negatively influenced open dumping of solid wastes by households were SLEEPINGROOMS, HOUSINGCOSTS and GUAN.…”