Report Littering and Dumping
It is really amazing to witness someone littering. While we know that someone must be doing it, it’s still shocking to actually see it happen. And, it’s also hard to know quite what to do.
Putting a stop to littering and dumping will require help from Shoals citizens. You can make a difference – by setting an example and by reporting littering and dumping when you see it.
If you are near the person, you could simply say, “Excuse me, I think you dropped something.” And direct them to the nearest trash can.
If you are driving, and witness someone throw something or litter coming from an unsecured truck-bed, here’s what you can do:
Get their tag number
Note the location and time of the incident.
Call the local police department as soon as possible. Local numbers are listed below.
Florence Police Department
Phone: (256) 760-6500
Sheffield Police Department
Phone: (256) 383-1771
Colbert County – Sheriff’s Office
Phone: (256) 383-0741
Muscle Shoals Police Department
Phone: (256) 383-6746
Tuscumbia Police Department
Phone: (256) 383-3121
Lauderdale County – Sheriff’s Office
Phone: (256) 760-5757
It’s always a good idea to have local police telephone numbers programmed into your cell phone, and you can use that information to report the incident immediately.
Littering is a crime. Fines and other punitive measures vary by local municipality. Litterers face fines ranging from $250-$500, and/or 30-60 days in jail. Convicted litterers can also be order to clean up a littered area in the community.
Litter laws can be enforced on both public and private property.
If you are aware of an illegal dump site, and/or witness someone dumping, especially hazardous materials, contact one of the following offices immediately, depending on the location:
Lauderdale County Health Department
4112 Chisholm Road, Florence
Phone: (256) 764-7453
Colbert County Health Department
1000 South Jackson Highway, Sheffield
Phone: (256) 383-1231
Lauderdale County Solid Waste Department
Phone: (256) 760-5878
ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management)
1400 Coliseum Boulevard
Montgomery, AL 36110
Phone: (334) 271-7700
*ADEM also enforces Alabama’s Scrap Tire Law
1212 Waterloo Rd
Florence, AL 35630
Phone: (256) 764-4382
Email: Lauderdale.county@forestry.alabama.gov
909 George Wallace Blvd. Suite A
Tuscumbia, AL 35674
Phone: (256) 383-4376
Email: Colbert.county@forestry.alabama.gov
Serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and 6 Tribes
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303-3104
Phone: (404) 562-9900
EPA Region 4 (Southeast)
Remember, you can make a difference! Please report illegal trash dump sites as early as possible. Once uncaring people see trash “dumped” in one particular area, they tend to start bringing their trash to the same site.