Illegal Dumping

Keeping Our Nation Clean Starts With Us.

What is Illegal Dumping and Why is it Unsafe?

Definiton of Open Dumping

Statute-107 refers to the unregulated disposal of solid waste at sites that do not meet sanitary landfill or hazardous waste facility standards.

There are many acceptable ways to properly dispose of unwanted waste materials. Each Chapter in the Nation may offer a slightly different level and type of service, but there is a right and wrong way to dispose of garbage and trash. Using proper disposal systems is protective of human health and the environment for many reasons. Not using the system and proper disposal sites is not only unsafe, but illegal. Open dumping in an unauthorized location is illegal, even if there is already waste accumulating in a spot, it does not mean it is legal to dump there.

Only use dumpsters, transfer stations, or collection services that haul waste to proper disposal locations. Modern waste contains plastics and harmful chemicals that damage the land and animals, unlike biodegradable materials used by our ancestors. The waste littering our sacred Navajo lands scars our beautiful Mother Earth. We must be good stewards and take responsibility. Dispose of waste properly, recycle, and compost. Protect our land, honor our heritage, and ensure a healthier environment for future generations. Let us restore the balance and beauty of our sacred home.

This practice poses significant environmental and health risks due to improper waste handling. Open dumps often contain non-biodegradable and harmful chemicals that can contaminate soil and water, harm wildlife, and endanger public health.

Proper waste management and adherence to environmental regulations are essential to prevent these detrimental impacts.

Health and Environmental Hazards

Open dumping poses significant risks to our environment, our health, and our safety. Improper waste disposal can lead to:

Attraction of animals

Mosquito breeding grounds

Safety hazards for children and adults

Disease harborage

Unpleasant odors

Soil and water contamination

The Lasting Impact of Illegal Dumping

Proper waste management is essential to mitigate these harmful effects and protect our communities and natural resources.

The long-term effects of open dumping are severe and far-reaching:

Environmental Degradation: Persistent contamination of soil and water can lead to the loss of biodiversity, disruption of ecosystems, and degradation of natural habitats. Man-made chemical substances from waste can leach into groundwater, affecting drinking water sources and agricultural productivity.
Public Health Risks: Continuous exposure to contaminates found in modern day waste can cause chronic health issues, including respiratory problems, skin conditions, and other serious illnesses. The spread of diseases due to pests and vermin attracted to open dumps can also become a persistent problem.
Economic Costs: The financial burden of cleaning up illegal dumpsites and addressing health issues related to waste exposure can strain community resources. Additionally, the negative impact on tourism and local businesses can hinder economic growth.
Social and Cultural Impact: The presence of open dumps can diminish the quality of life for residents, creating an unsightly and unhealthy living environment. It can also erode cultural and spiritual connections to the land, as the natural beauty and sanctity of sacred sites are compromised.
Climate Change: Decomposing and /or burning waste in open dumps releases greenhouse gases, such as methane, contributing to global warming and climate change. This exacerbates environmental challenges and impacts weather patterns, agriculture, and the overall ecosystem health.

Trash can harm wildlife and livestock

The vast territory of the Navajo Nation is home to many animals and wildlife; just as humans are affected by open dumping, so are animals. It is important to keep this in mind as trash that is not disposed of safely can cause negative impacts to animals and wildlife.

Animals that eat plastic or other trash can choke, starve, or become seriously ill.
Animals can get entangled in the trash resulting in them getting trapped or injured which can lead to an infection.

Pollutants that are at the ground level can be inhaled, exposed, and absorbed by the environment, people, and animals nearby.

Most of these items have chemicals that can leak into the ground affecting water and sanitation systems. The chemicals are often flammable and can result in unintended fires, and the harmful chemicals can impact all ecosystems including soil, water, air, plants, animals, and human beings.

Open burning releases harmful chemicals into the air.

Backyard burning or burning your own trash is a serious health risk. The smoke releases harmful chemicals, including dioxins, which can interfere with how cells grow and develop. Exposure to dioxins can cause problems with reproduction, weaken the immune system, disrupt hormones, and increase the risk of cancer. The definition of open burning is the burning of solid waste without:

Control of the temperature of the air for efficient burning.
Containment of the burning reaction in an enclosed device to provide sufficient residence time and mixing for complete burning.
Control of the emission (i.e. smoke, pollution) of the burned products.

Microplastics, Nanoplastics and Their Impacts on Our Bodies and the Environment

Microplastics are plastic fragments that are smaller than five millimeters. The EPA defines microplastics, or MPs, “as plastic particles ranging in size from 5 millimeters (mm) to 1 nanometer (nm). For comparison, a strand of human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide.” These small particles can be found in soil, water, air, and the food we eat, leading to their absorption into the human body fat. Once inside the body, microplastics can remain for approximately 7 to 11 years.

Items that contain hazardous waste materials should never be discarded at an open dump

Hazardous waste materials pose significant risks to human health and the environment. These materials can release toxic substances, cause chemical reactions, and lead to long-term environmental damage.
Proper disposal methods are essential to prevent contamination of soil and water, protect wildlife, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Special disposal procedures help contain and treat hazardous waste safely, minimizing health risks and safeguarding public safety.

Hazardous items can include: