HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Pennsylvania House committee unanimously advanced legislation that could hike the maximum fines for littering and illegal dumping. A state representative from Philadelphia wants to make clear to violators that those fines are not just “the cost of doing business.”
The bill’s prime sponsor, Democrat Donna Bullock, says a recent report found a high cost statewide associated with litter and illegal dumping.
“It found that, over a five year period, PennDOT spent over $65 million removing litter and debris from our public highways,” Bullock said.
She said her bill would hike maximum fines for littering and illegal dumping, in part, to recoup costs to cities.
“Cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Altoona, Erie, and few others in between, spend a collective $68.5 million annually to address education, enforcement and removal of illegal dumping and litter in our communities,” Bullock said, citing the report.
“This cost is borne by taxpayers, and guess what — the folks who are actually doing illegal dumping are not paying significant fines.”
An EPA survey found 10% of businesses and 8% of residents “strongly agreed” they would risk a fine to avoid removal and landfill costs — “so we need to make the practice of illegal dumping more cost prohibitive, to encourage folks to actually properly dispose of their waste.”
The bill heads next to the full House for consideration.
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