Illegal dumpsites can attract rats, can pollute our rivers and streams, and may contaminate wells if the dumpsite contains hazardous chemicals. If it’s not cleaned up quickly, it can invite more illegal dumping.

To protect public health and the environment, King County just made reporting illegal dumpsites easier by creating a new central hotline and a Web site for reporting on-line.

People can now call one central hotline: (206)296-SITE (7483) or toll free (866) 431-7483, or log on to http://www.metrokc.gov/dumping to report the dumpsites, eliminating confusion about where to report illegal dumping. The hotline is backed by a new, streamlined system that also eliminates duplication of effort by county departments.

Through greater coordination between departments, the county is able to improve customer service without increasing staffing.

The hotline is the first recommendation from the county’s Illegal Dumping Task Force to be implemented.