Dirty Crimes Carry Fines Educational Campaign

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

There are several bulk trash disposal options available for the residents of Miami-Dade County, Florida. For customers of the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM), 13 Trash and Recycling Centers are located throughout the department’s 320-square-mile service area where customers can dispose of their bulk trash items for free. These residents can also schedule up to two bulky waste pickups of up to 25-cubic yards each during the calendar year. Additionally, all commercial entities and residents can dispose of bulk trash items, for a fee, at one of the department’s two landfills, and several privately-owned landfills and disposal sites located within Miami-Dade County. Despite these convenient disposal options, illegal dumping is a persistent problem in Miami-Dade County with illegal dumping piles being left along the public rights-of-way in various locations in the department’s service area. In order to educate the public on its role in the prevention of illegal dumping in Miami-Dade County, the department created the Dirty Crimes Carry Fines educational campaign. The campaign features radio, television, print, online and transit advertising. This diversified marketing approach allows the department to educate residents on how to report illegal dumping in their community, while also providing information on the penalties violators can face for illegally dumping trash on public rights-of-way. The outcome of this campaign has been better public understanding of the different ways to report illegal dumping and a decrease in the number of illegal dumping citations because violators are more aware of the penalties associated with illegal dumping.