Coles County Health Department - Environmental Health

Refuse, Solid Waste, and Nuisance

Roll-off Program

Coles County offers a Supplemental refuse Pickup Program to citizens of Coles County only. Users may be asked to produce identification that they reside in Coles County and loads may be rejected if the container is full or if the load is large or unusual.

Positively No Dumping On the Ground
Or When the Container is Absent!!!!!!

The rules for the use of the roll-off program are the following:

Prohibited Uses
- Commercial dumping
- Dumping of car bodies and machineries
- Dumping yard waste
- Dumping on the ground
- White goods (refrigerators, water heaters, stoves, etc.)
- Dumping of animal carcasses
- Dumping of septic tank waste
- Hot loads / ashes, or burnt material
- Landscape waste
In order to keep the roll-off program useful and available, please do the following:
- Dry wrap garbage
- If container is full, take waste to another container site or to sanitary landfill
- Take large or unusual loads to the sanitary landfill
- Condense rubbish, flatten boxes
- Use recycling drop-off sites and centers for recyclables (aluminum, plastics, newspaper, glass, etc.)

If any abuse is seen, the Health Department should be immediately notified. When containers are full it is requested that Veolia at 217-345-7414 or 217-345-7404 be contacted.

If you have further questions concerning the Supplemental Refuse Pickup Program, please feel free to contact us at the Health Department, 217-348-0530 (Charleston) or 217-258-0530 (Mattoon).

Roll-off Schedule (PDF File)

Solid Waste

OPEN DUMPING IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.

The accumulation of solid waste may be considered a nuisance that is enforceable through the nuisance ordinance. Solid waste must be disposed of in a proper manner as there are many potential hazards created by the failure to dispose of solid waste legally.

Many potential hazards are created by open dumping:

Potential for explosions
Fire hazards
Toxic gas release
Potential injury to children
Drinking water contamination
Damage to plants and wildlife

Reporting Illegal Dump Sites

Report site to state and local law enforcement authorities
Report site to local Health Departments
For further assistance call your regional Environmental Protection Agency Office
- Champaign Regional Office 217-278-5800

Who is liable

The land owner is liable, even if the land owner is neither the dumper nor knowledgeable about the dump site.
The dumper is also liable
The generator of the waste is also responsible if the person hired to dispose of the waste does so illegally.

Land owners can protect themselves against illegal dumping by:

Erecting barriers (gates/fences/locked cables) to the property
Posting warning signs such as “NO DUMPING” or “NO TRESPASSING”
Cleaning up dump sites immediately so as not to encourage others to dump
Ask law enforcement officials to patrol area more frequently.

Enforcement measures can include:

Immediate cleanup of the area
Citations or notices to appear in court
Fines
State’s Attorney can prosecute for criminal & civil damages

Acceptable disposal options for commonly dumped materials:

Garbage
- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
- Sanitary Landfill
Landscape Waste
- Participate in community landscape waste collections
- Construct an on-site, well maintained, household compost bin
- Mulch your yard material
- Leave grass clippings on lawn as nutrients
Used Tires
- Participate in the used tire collection program which is available to private property owners and farmers
- Allow your tire retailer to dispose of your used tires for you.
- Burning Tires is Illegal!
White goods (refrigerators, Freezers, Ranges)
- Dispose of these materials at a landfill that participates in the Industrial Material Exchange Service
- Dispose of these materials at a metal recycler
Motor Oil
- Many service stations and recycling centers accept used oil
Household Hazardous Waste
- Participate in household hazardous waste collections. For a collection nearest you, call 217-785-8604

Nuisance

The Solid Waste Storage and Handling of Refuse and Nuisances Ordinance was created due to the increase of scrap and waste materials of all kinds. The excessive quantities of refuse and inefficient and improper methods of refuse disposal result in scenic blight and cause serious hazards to the public health, comfort, safety, convenience, welfare and happiness of the county residences, create public nuisances and otherwise interfere with the community life and development, create havens for vermin, and create fire hazards.

The Ordinance covers refuse storage and handling, nuisances and dangerous buildings. When a written, signed Citizen’s Nuisance Complaint (PDF File) is received by the Coles County Health Department an inspection team from the Health Department and the Coles County Sheriff’s Office conducts an investigation of the property. If violations are observed, the individual responsible for the violations or property owner is issued a Notice to Abate. This Notice gives the individual a time frame to correct the violations observed. If the individual makes all corrections, the file is closed after the inspection team conducts a compliance inspection confirming corrections. If the violations remain, a Violation Notice and Report is issued giving the individual a hearing date. The individual is requested to appear at a formal hearing before the Hearing Officer to present any evidence on his or her behalf responding to the written violations of the inspection team. The inspection team is also present to provide evidence supporting the validity of the violations observed. If a property owner or responsible individual cannot be ascertained, or f service on the respondent cannot be made by mail, service may be made on the property by posting a violation notice.

2011 Hearing Dates:

June 28, 2011

August 30, 2011

October 25, 2011

December 6, 2011