Illegal Dumping may affect the heath and safety of humans and wildlife. Items such as metal, old appliances, broken glass, and other objects may contribute to physical injuries if unexpected contact is made. Other problems may develop if harmful substances are dumped at the site, these substances may leach into the environment and contaminate the soil and groundwater. Air quality may be threatened if the illegal dumpsite is burned; many plastics and other waste products are known to be extremely toxic when burned.

The purpose of the illegal dump survey was to document illegal dumpsites within the Region M Solid Waste Management District. The district is comprised of the following 5 counties located in southwest corner of Missouri: Vernon County, Barton County, Jasper County, Newton County and McDonald County. Illegal dumping most often occurs in isolated places, areas with little population, and along roadways which are less traveled, as a result of these factors, very few people are aware of the problem with illegal dumping within the Region.

Electronic waste, or E-Waste, includes TVs, computers, monitors, and other electronic equipment. It is the fastest growing part of the solid waste stream. Only about 12 percent of E-Waste is recycled nationwide and the rest ends up being either landfilled or shipped abroad, where it becomes mountains of trash on which third world kids climb. Furthermore, according to the U.S. EPA, even the tiniest amounts of the toxic substances in E-waste can pollute ground water if leak out of even the most well-run landfill.

The Department of Natural Resources has conducted several scrap-tire cleanup campaigns since 1990, each targeting different size scrap tire sites, beginning with the largest. This program does not seek reimbursement for cleanup costs of eligible sites. To qualify for this program, a site must contain between 500 to 10,000 tires. Active businesses and prior program recipients are not eligible for this program. The department continues to work with Missouri's solid waste management districts, cities, and counties coordinating tire roundups, and encourages and reimburses nonprofit citizens groups in cleaning up dump-sites that contain fewer than 500 tires.

For more information or to sign up for the Tire Dump Roundup Program, contact the department's Scrap Tire Unit at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-3909 or visit the department's website at dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/tires/tirelist.htm.