The result was a significant reduction in illegal dumping and the cleanup of many dump sites in the county. With the success of this program in the original county under way, the first officer talked with other counties and showed them the benefits of using this new tool against dumpers. Litter Control Officer programs work when a county has the strong support of its prosecutor and local judges. The officers have full ticketing authority in the county because they are actual deputy officers of the sheriff's department. Dumping citations are issued by the officer and require dumpers to appear before the judge in court to answer to the documented violations.
Sentences can include fines, cleanup of dumps or both.
For most county law enforcement offices, illegal dumping issues are low on the list of enforcement priorities. For this reason, an initiative by one dedicated volunteer can have a significant impact. The officer becomes recognized in the county, and local citizens know that they can call this person to report dump sites or vehicles they suspect may be involved in dumping. In an effort to help promote the Litter Control Officer program, the department's Solid Waste Management Program is developing a plan to provide an introductory seminar to counties and Solid Waste Management Districts. This seminar will explain how existing programs were set up in the hope that counties and districts will try the plan in their areas.