OHIO — Illegal dumping is becoming a costly problem for cities across the state to tackle. Leaders say more needs to be done to fix this problem.
On average, the City of Cincinnati spends $3-4 million annually to clean up littering and illegal dumping. Some of the biggest items the city is seeing are tires and construction equipment.
According to the Ohio Revised Code, illegal dumping can be prosecuted as an unclassified felony. If convicted, offenders could be fined and sentenced to prison. Yet it is still an issue.
“We have over the last few years, also through Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, implemented a couple of measures, one of which, for example, just putting cameras there so we can detect it,” said Mark Jeffreys, a member of the Cincinnati City Council. “And obviously if people are illegal dumping, making ensure that we’re addressing that and fining folks because it is illegal. But we also need to look at more creative solutions.”
Last year Attorney General Dave Yost created Shine a Light on Dumpers. It is a $1.1 million state-wide initiative to help crack down on illegal dumping.
Camri Nelson
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