Illegal dumping, also known as midnight dumping and fly dumping, is the disposal of waste in un areas. In North Carolina, illegal dumping has been a growing problem for years without any signs of stopping. Consequently, human health, the environment, and economic development are compromised. It especially occurs in communitieswhere illegal dumping ordinances are nonexistent, convenient solid waste drop-off centers are not provided, landfill tipping fees are high, and enforcement is lacking. Characterizing a typical illegal dumper is not very easy.
People choose to dump illegally for various reasons.
Illegal dumping poses human health risks by providing breeding places for insects, rodents and other vectors and pests. Dumpsites are also prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes when sites contain tires because they provide mosquitoes with a place where stagnant water can accumulate, allowing mosquitoes to multiply 100 times faster than normal. Mosquitoes pose human health threats in that mosquitoes are vectors for various diseases, including encephalitis strains. Illegal dumps can contaminate surface and ground water supplies, pose fire dangers, disrupt wildlife habitats, and interrupt drainage of surface water, thus leading to flooding. Some dumpsites may contain physical and chemical hazards, such as batteries, resins, epoxies, waterproofing agents, asbestos, and oil, which could have negative human and environmental health effects.