Blog
Move-Out Season is here, so we asked property managers about illegal dumping. How often does it happen on their properties? The overwhelming answer, "Frequently," required an answer of 6 or more times per year. For most properties, illegal dumping is not just a nuisance. It’s a constant problem that affects operations. It’s not a question of if, but when (and how many times).
More than 23.6 million moved in 2023 and the majority of moves were to and from multi-family properties. And as always, people left furniture, mattresses, and junk behind—either at the curb or by the dumpster. Many items lack proper tags or pickup schedules. Every incident invites outsiders to dump illegally as well.
Each illegal dumping incident has historically cost a property about $2,500. At 6 incidents per year, that’s $15,000 to dispose of other people’s waste.
Managers seem to think that $2500 is a little low on average. Many property managers reported that the costs of illegal dumping have increased. Most say they are up by more than 10% or just up.
What used to be a minor nuisance is now a line-item concern for most properties. Whether it’s:
Multiply that by 12 months? You’re talking thousands in unbudgeted OPEX.
Every property manager has tried at least one method to stop illegal dumping. Zero percent of respondents have said they tried nothing. It’s a recognized, active, and unsolved pain point.
Equally of note, only 25% of property managers selected “All of the Above” when it came to combining surveillance, signage, and police engagement as a layered solution.
Most have relied on increased signage. Alone, this rarely stops determined dumpers—especially non-residents or contractors. Without real enforcement, signs become just another ignored warning.
Just 25% of property managers selected "All of the Above" for using surveillance, signage, and police engagement. which would represent a layered approach to security.
Most have relied on increased signage. Alone, this rarely stops determined dumpers—especially non-residents or contractors. Without real enforcement, signs become just another ignored warning.
Given the cost of cleanup and dumping violations, the use of surveillance is surprisingly low. Surveillance is a reliable witness to illegal activity. Using AI and remote monitoring in surveillance cameras can prevent most illegal dumping. For resident offenses, they provide a way to recover costs. They do this by charging for lease violations. For non-residents, you can effortlessly download time-stamped footage to share with the police. It's ready for court with just one click.
Our customers are preventing 98% of crimes on the property—including illegal dumping.
.svg)
.svg)
.png)
%20(1)-min.webp)
