Dollars for Dumpers

Recently, and less recently, neighborhood heroes have managed to catch the license plate number of illegal dumpers. In layman's terms, illegal dumping means throwing your crap where it don't belong. In this City, we're all responsible for disposing our trash and recycling in front of our abodes or businesses. Taking it elsewhere and "dumping it" reeks havoc on the system and leads to a general level of yuckiness. See construction garbage near a public trash can? Illegal dumping. See bags of household trash in those same cans? Illegal dumping. See a business without a valid sticker showing a contract with a private collection company? They're illegally dumping almost every day. And then there's the vision we all have of someone bringing an actual dump truck up to a vacant lot and dumping out the contents and lumbering away. That's the mother of all dumps, but a dump's a dump and deserves a thump in the rump. Nothing gets my goat more than dumpers, though in truth my goat might come in handy to eat the rubbish. (do they really eat cans, or is that a country myth?)

While littering is both "filthy and selfishtm" dumping is the king of all selfish garbage related acts, because you're not only ignoring your refuse responsibility, you're laying it on someone else. But thankfully, we have a way to MAKE YOU PAY!!!

If you see someone dumping illegally, write down their license plate and send in your complaint. To sweeten the deal, you may be eligible for half the fine. Just read the fine, fine print about the fine below, or click on this link. (According to the list below, though it may come as a shock to some, it is NOT okay to dump manure willy-nilly on your neighbor's sidewalk.)

It is unlawful for any person, their agent, employee, or any person under their control to suffer or permit any dirt, sand, gravel, clay, stone, rocks, rubbish, building rubbish, sawdust, shavings or trade or household waste, refuse, ashes, manure, garbage, rubbish or debris of any sort, or any other organic or nonorganic material, or other offensive matter being transported in a dump truck or other vehicle to be dumped, deposited or otherwise disposed of in or upon any street, lot, park, public place or other area whether publicly or privately owned.

Both owner and driver of the vehicle shall be liable for the dumping violation. Fines for the owner of the vehicle range from $1,500 to $20,000. In instances where the owner and the operator are not the same person the maximum fine is $40,000. In the Tip Program two summonses could be issued depending upon who the Sanitation Police Officers apprehend.

Where information furnished by an individual under the Tip Program to the Sanitation Department has resulted in a fine or civil penalty for unlawful dumping, at the discretion of the Sanitation Commissioner, up to 50% of the amount collected shall be offered as a reward to said individual.

If you know of facts and circumstances which suggest illegal dumping is occurring at a location and want to report the occurrence but remain anonymous, you can file an Illegal Dumping Plan form. After your Tip is received Sanitation Police will monitor the location for several weeks in an attempt to catch the dumper. When the dumper you reported is apprehended again dumping at the reported location you will be eligible to receive up to 50% of any fine collected or $500 if there is a criminal conviction and no fine is paid.
EARNING YOUR REWARD

• Observe the vehicle:
  • Do not make your presence known;
  • Do not touch the material dumped;
  • Report the vehicles, not the individuals.
• Record vital information:
  • License plate number;
  • Vehicle description;
  • Nature of material dumped; and
  • Typical time and day of the week when the dumping takes place.
• File a citizen Illegal Dumping Tip form with the Sanitation Enforcement Division.

NOTE: Employees of the Department of Sanitation, the Environmental Control Board and NYC Peace Officers are not eligible for a reward.

REQUESTING CITIZEN TIP FORMS

You can print the Tip Form (14KB) or request that a form be sent to you by calling the New York City Citizen Service Center at 3-1-1 or contacting your local community board.

COMPLETING THE ILLEGAL DUMPING CITIZEN TIP FORM

Please Note: Review the form for accuracy and completeness and forward it to:

Director of Enforcement
NYC Department of Sanitation
1824 Shore Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11214

STATUS OF THE PROCESS

• In a few weeks you will be notified by mail of the status of the complaint.
• If we were unsuccessful in catching the vehicle dumping you will be notified.
• If a Notice of Violation was issued you will be notified.
• If the respondent appears and pleads guilty or is found guilty and pays the fine, you will receive your reward fairly quickly.
• If the respondent defaults, the case goes for collection and any reward would then be paid after the fine is collected.

Please Note: You cannot receive your reward until the alleged illegal dumper is found guilty or defaults and the fine is paid, which may take several months. NOTE: The Department also operates an illegal Dumping Reward Program. Under the Reward Program individuals file an affidavit which is used to bring a case against the reported illegal dumper. Individuals who file an affidavit are eligible for 50% of any fine collected but may have to testify at an Environmental Control Board Hearing.