A Functionalist Perspective on Illegal Dumping

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A Functionalist Perspective on Illegal Dumping

Illegal dumping is the disposal of waste or trash in areas other than permitted disposal sites. Forms of illegal dumping and litter include disposing of empty cans in a forest, pouring factory waste down a storm sewer, placing furniture along a back property line, dropping a bag of grass trimmings in an open field, and discarding cigarette butts on the side of the road. The many forms of illegal dumping translate to high costs for the environment and to society to clean up the waste. Dumping also violates the rights of land owners and society because of tax money spent cleaning up or restoring the site of dumping. Trash and waste decrease the property value and natural appeal of public and private properties. More than a quarter of a million dollars are spent by many counties across the United States annually to deal with illegal dumping and litter (Integrated Waste Management Board, 2014). The real cost of illegal dumping is evident in the numerous community health and safety issues associated with dumping, not just the cost of cleanup.
Dumping may not seem like a big deal to some people at first since it doesn’t seem to affect other people in many cases. In fact in some cases, dumping nonhazardous waste on one’s own property can be considered illegal dumping. The reason that certain dumping events are outlawed is that oftentimes the activity violates the health and safety of the community or the environment. Local government ordinances are designed by the community to protect the shared well-being of the community. Violators often face a fine for a minor offense and larger fines and/or jail time for larger offenses.
Community health and safety may be negatively impacted in vari...

... middle of paper ...

... one can see this with the consequences of dumping. Families are harmed when drinking water is contaminated with hazardous fluids that seep into

References
Integrated Waste Management Board. (2014). What is illegal dumping? Sonoma County Department of Health Services: Environmental Health Division. Retrieved from http://www.keepsonomaclean.org/ill_dumping.htm
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. (2014). Highway beautification/adopt-a-highway – enforcing litter laws. Pennsylvania Resources Council. Retrieved from http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/pdHwyBeau.nsf/infoEnforce?OpenForm
Kendall, D. (2013). Sociology in our times (9th ed.). United States of America: Cengage Learning.
Louisvill Metro Government. (2013). Illegal dumping in louisville. City of Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved from http://www.louisvilleky.gov/SolidWaste/illegaldumping/dumping_louisville.htm

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