Ohio AG marks Earth Day with new round of grants to fight illegal dumping
In recognition of Earth Day, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced a second round of funding through his “Shine a Light on Dumpers” initiative, making another $1 million in grants available to help local communities clean up illegal dump sites and prevent future dumping.
“Local governments made it clear that they needed this program, and we listened,” Yost said. “Illegal dumping is unacceptable, plain and simple. These grants help communities fight back, and Earth Day is the right time to double down on those efforts.”
The funding builds on the success of the first round of grants, awarded in 2025, which supported 31 projects throughout Ohio, highlighting the widespread demand from local governments for resources to address illegal dumping.
Northeast Ohio communities that benefitted from the grant include:
Akron-Canton Airport (Summit County) – equipment
Technical equipment will be used at the airport to help deter dumping of tires and debris.
Austintown Township (Mahoning County) – equipment
To ward off after-hours dumping at Green Briar Township Park, the township will install a barrier gate at the park entrance to limit access during non-operational hours.
City of Canton (Stark County) – equipment
A locked gate will be installed to prevent access to a dead-end cul-de-sac (at Sixth Street NE west of Economy Court) that has become a target for illegal dumping. The area currently has no residents or businesses.
City of Elyria (Lorain County) – equipment
Outdated fencing will be upgraded with tamper-resistant barriers and locks to secure a contaminated quarry. Trespassers frequently swim in toxic water at the site and leave waste behind.
City of Euclid (Cuyahoga County) – equipment
Technical equipment and signage will be installed at eight locations in the city where illegal dumping is a persistent problem. Two of the sites are near waterways, raising additional environmental concerns.
Copley Township (Summit County) – equipment
Technical equipment will be installed at illegal-dumping sites in remote areas. The video footage turned over to local law enforcement to support the identification and prosecution of offenders.
Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District (Cuyahoga County) – equipment
Technical equipment will be installed in frequent illegal dumping areas throughout Cuyahoga County.
Warren Township (Trumbull County) – cleanup and equipment
Trash, tires and construction debris disposed of illegally in a residential area at Bane and Miller streets will be removed.
Washington Township (Columbiana County) – equipment
Barriers and fencing will be installed at a site plagued by nearly 40 years of illegal dumping. The site – in a rural area on a hillside – is difficult to access, making it challenging for the township to maintain, particularly in winter.
Local governments can apply for up to $100,000 for illegal dump-site cleanup and up to $20,000 for preventive measures, including signs, gates and barriers. The program funding comes from settlement dollars secured by the Environmental Enforcement Section of Yost’s office.
The application period, opening Aprill 22, will run through July 31, or until the funds are exhausted. Yost’s Environmental Enforcement team expects to review applications on a rolling basis, with the goal of awarding and distributing funds by the end of 2026.
Simultaneous with the application period, the team will host a series of trainings for local law enforcement and municipal officials on how to investigate and deter illegal dumping.
The Shine a Light on Dumpers initiative, launched in 2023, takes a comprehensive approach to combating illegal dumping through enforcement support, public education, equipment resources and grant funding.