Updating EPA’s Illegal Dumping Prevention Guide

Image of EPA's publication cover: Illegal Dumping Guide

Project Brief

The Challenge

In 1998, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 5 published the Illegal Dumping Prevention Guide. Designed to support local communities in mitigating illegal dumping and implementing prevention programs, the guide was targeted for use by Tribal, state, county, and local government authorities; community groups; civic organizations; industry representatives; utilities; and infrastructure companies such as transportation and pipeline services providers. The 1998 version covered unique factors contributing to illegal dumping as well as successful prevention strategies and described a series of case studies in the Upper Midwest. EPA contracted with ERG to provide support for updating this guide.


ERG's Solution

ERG communications and solid waste professionals worked collaboratively with EPA to update the guide. We began by researching recent illegal dumping prevention programs throughout the United States, with a focus on the Upper Midwest, and provided a summary spreadsheet to EPA. Then, our project team developed and sent questions to a set of representative communities in Region 5 to gain insight into their prevention programs and gather photos for the new version of the guide. Communities responded by providing information on which prevention methods had and had not worked for them. Based on our research results and the community input, we then developed an updated guide with a new design. The updated Illegal Dumping Prevention Guide, published in 2025, includes information on understanding illegal dumping; patterns, motives, and impacts of illegal dumping; contributing factors; and successful community strategies, resources, and tools for preventing and managing illegal dumping.


Client

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency