Open Dumps

I-RID (Illinois Removes Illegal Dumps)

Open Dumps

(I-RID Brochure) 

Open dumps are piles of household garbage, bags of yard waste, appliances, old barrels, used tires, or demolition debris such as lumber, shingles, pipes and asbestos. Open dumping can threaten the health of humans, wildlife, and the environment. Open dumps can be found in urban, suburban, and rural areas throughout the state heaped at the bottom of ravines, in abandoned lots and empty pastures, or along roads. An open dump is an illegal waste disposal site and should not be confused with a permitted municipal solid waste landfill or a recycling facility. If allowed to remain, open dumps often grow larger, and may attract dumping of both solid and hazardous wastes.

I-RID can help fund a clean up in your area!

I-RID (Illinois Removes Illegal Dumps) is an initiative that will provide the largest state funding in history to clean up orphan open dump sites. The Illinois EPA started this program to facilitate the removal of waste and prevent future dumping on the following types of properties:

• State lands


• County government properties


• Local municipality or township lands


• Abandoned properties


• Public lands


• Public right-of-way


• Park or Natural Areas


• Environmental Justice Areas


• Privately owned lands with up to 20 cubic yards of waste

The Illinois EPA may undertake a consensual removal action for the removal of up to 20 cubic yards of waste at no cost to the owner of the property. However, Illinois EPA has restricted private land clean ups to those sites where fly dumping has occurred, sites bought by owners who were unaware of dumping on the property, or sites owned by individuals with severe illness or financial difficulties. When more than 20 cubic yards of waste is present, a partnership between Illinois EPA and the property owner may be the best solution.

The I-RID program was initiated to clean up orphan dump sites and abandoned piles of waste. Essentially, the land owner has a duty to prevent open dumping and to clean up any pollution on their property. The dumper is also liable for open dumping and is subject to enforcement action. The generator of the waste that is illegally dumped is also responsible. If a clean up is ordered on private lands due to a threat to human and environmental health, Illinois EPA may attempt to recover the costs of the clean up from the property owner.

In some cases the Illinois EPA may spend up to $50,000 at any single site in response to open dumping. The Illinois EPA may spend more if the General Assembly appropriates the funds or if the Director determines that the open dumping poses an imminent endangerment to public health or the environment.

Report Open Dumping to Your Local Authorities

Local law enforcement and public health officials have a duty to enforce open dumping laws. Counties and municipalities may impose additional penalties for open dumping. In the case of a fly dump site or an abandoned pile of waste, Illinois EPA can use the I-RID funds to remove the waste and install preventative measures such as cables, signs, and barricades to impede future dumping. Local authorities have the advantage of being close to the open dump sites and can immediately respond to complaints and can:

• Investigate to find evidence of the persons responsible for the open dumping


• Require an immediate clean up of the area
• Levy their own local fines for open dumping
• Issue citations or notices to appear in court
• Report the site to the Illinois EPA as an I-RID candidate
• Patrol the problem area after the I-RID clean up

Inspection Delegation Agreements

The Illinois EPA has established delegation agreements with 19 Illinois counties and the City of Chicago. These units of local government have agreed to conduct inspections. To find out if you live in a delegated area, contact your Illinois EPA Regional Office.

Illinois EPA Regional Offices
IEPA Headquarters – Springfield
217/785-8604

Region 1 – Rockford
815/987-7760

Region 2 - Des Plaines
847/294-4000

Region 3 – Peoria
309/693-5462

Region 4 – Champaign
217/278-5800

Region 5 – Springfield
217/786-6892

Region 6 – Collinsville
618/346-5120

Region 7 – Marion
618/993-7200

Individuals living in non-delegated counties are encouraged to contact the Illinois EPA inspector in the field office serving your area. They can help you determine if the open dump site would qualify for a clean up funded by the I-RID program.

What if I discover open dumping on my property?

Report open dumping to local law enforcement authorities or the local health department immediately.

To protect yourself against future open dumping:

• Put up barriers (locked cables and gates) to prevent physical access to the property.


• Post warning signs such as “NO DUMPING” or “NO TRESPASSING”.


• Clean up dump sites immediately so as not to encourage others to dump.


• Notify local law enforcement and health departments as well as keep a log book. Record the date, time and description of what is dumped, and which authorities you notified each time you found signs of dumping.


• Ask local law enforcement officials to patrol the problem area more frequently.


• Alert adjoining property owners of the open dumping problem and enlist their help in a neighborhood watch program.

The dumper and generators of the waste are liable and subject to enforcement action. Further, the landowner has a duty to prevent open dumping and to clean up any pollution on his/her property. The I-RID program was initiated to clean up orphan dump sites and abandoned piles of waste. Significant measures to prevent future open dumping will be obligatory at all sites cleaned up under the I-RID program.