Richland County Sheriff's Office receives Earth Day grant to clean up illegal dumping

MANSFIELD — The Richland County Sheriff’s Office will receive funds from the Ohio Attorney General’s office in an effort to clean up illegal dumping.

The announcement was made Tuesday as part of a rollout of nearly $1 million in grants to more than two dozen local governments throughout Ohio. The goal is to clean up existing illegal dump sites containing solid wastes and/or demolition debris and to prevent future dumping.

The dollar figure per grant to each specific entity was not disclosed.

For the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, funding will help to purchase equipment.

Specifically, the sheriff’s office will address open dumping by replacing aging and ineffective deterrent signs with new, more visible signage in an effort to encourage responsible disposal and enhance public awareness of the illegal dumping issue.

“Illegal dumping isn’t just an eyesore — it’s a health hazard and a public betrayal,” Yost said. “These grants give communities the funding needed to reclaim places where they live, work and raise their families.”

The funding is part of Yost’s “Shine a Light on Dumpers” initiative, a multi-layered program launched in 2023 to tackle illegal dumping through enforcement support, public education and financial resources.

The grants, funded by settlement dollars secured by Yost’s Environmental Enforcement team, were offered to local governments that demonstrated a need.

Grants of up to $100,000 were available for cleanup efforts. In addition, applicants could seek up to $20,000 for equipment — such as signs, gates and barriers — to deter future dumping.

Grants were awarded for projects in communities in every region of Ohio. A complete list of project details is available on the attorney general’s website.

Grants awarded by region:

CENTRAL

Clinton Township (Knox County) – equipment
Fairfield County Health Department (Fairfield County) – equipment
Madison Township (Fairfield County) – cleanup and equipment
Marion Public Health (Marion County) – cleanup

NORTHEAST

Akron-Canton Airport (Summit County) – equipment
Austintown Township (Mahoning County) – equipment
City of Canton (Stark County) – equipment
City of Elyria (Lorain County) – equipment
City of Euclid (Cuyahoga County) – equipment
Copley Township (Summit County) – equipment
Warren Township (Trumbull County) – cleanup and equipment
Washington Township (Columbiana County) – equipment

SOUTHEAST

Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District (Adams/Clermont counties) – cleanup and equipment
Brush Creek Township (Adams County) – cleanup
Hocking County Health Department (Hocking County) – cleanup and equipment
Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District (Jefferson County) – cleanup and equipment
Marion Township (Morgan County) – cleanup
Smith Township (Belmont County) – cleanup and equipment

NORTHWEST