Greg's Corner

Illegal craigslist dumping can hurt us all

You may not think that illegal trash dumping is a problem since you either don’t see it often or engage in it. That doesn’t mean it’s not going on and can’t affect you. In too many communities there are places known to locals as a sort of de facto dumping ground. Unfortunately, a multitude of these spots could not only have detrimental effects on the wildlife and environment but in the long run, could lead to substantial health hazards and decreased property values. While local governments can crack down on offenders, it doesn’t seem to be turning the tide.

So if you have a lot of junk and trash that needs to be hauled away from your home you may think of contacting a professional hauler. So where do you go to find one? Hopefully not craigslist as FOX 5 in Las Vegas points out, a number of businesses on craigslist purport to be legitimate haulers, but instead, these fake haulers are just dumping your junk in the Nevada desert.

As with most craigslist problems, if it’s happening in one area, it’s probably happening in many more. If you want to responsibly have your junk hauled away and not just dumped somewhere where anyone could find it, you’ll want to use a licensed hauling service. They’ll charge more than illegal dumpers, but that’s because they’re using that money to dispose of your refuse legally and safely. If an illegal dumper dumps your trash and authorities find any of your identifying information you could be held legally responsible and end up getting fined thousands of dollars. So isn’t it worth it to spend the extra money to make sure it’s done right?