The ongoing Illegal Dump Free PA Surveillance Camera Loan Program is designed to provide surveillance cameras to eligible organizations in Pennsylvania to help capture evidence at active, illegal dumpsites.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) will loan three high quality surveillance cameras and provide training and assistance to selected applicants. Grant recipients will work with local enforcement agencies to ultimately reduce illegal dumping through public education and enforcement. Apply below.

The Information

  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis as long as funding permit. All completed applications will be evaluated and awarded as cameras are available. KPB staff will contact the applicant to discuss the program and expectations as well as answer any questions. Depending on location and situation, a site visit may be scheduled prior to the final decision on an application.
  • If the cameras will be put on private property a permission form will be needed prior to installation. You may contact us or fill out the application before obtaining the signed permission form. This can be useful to see in advance if the location may indeed be a good candidate for our type of cameras.
  • Once an application is approved, a packet will be sent to the applicant and a date will be scheduled for training and installation. KPB provides educational materials in the packet for the recipients to introduce to local Magisterial District Judges upon receiving the acceptance letter. Discussing the program with judges and enforcement partners before attempting any prosecutions is important to identify any questions or concerns they may have.
  • Recipients will receive training and the use of three surveillance cameras to capture evidence of illegal dumping at an active dumpsite.
  • The initial loan period is approximately 3 months. However, at the end of this period, KPB and recipient will discuss whether to extend loan period another 3 months.
  • Recipients will submit Progress Report Forms to KPB every two weeks (this can be done on our website) and a final report at the end of the loan.
  • A second set of memory cards and rechargeable batteries, plus a charger are provided by KPB. Additional batteries or memory cards will be purchased by recipient. Only Panasonic eneloop Pro or Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries are to be used. Memory cards should be at least SanDisk Ultra SDHC class 10 (8GB is the recommended storage capacity).
  • Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will activate and maintain wireless communication on selected cameras.
  • Any additional media coverage or details regarding the program should be provided to KPB.
  • The applicant will keep confidential the actual surveillance camera placements and take appropriate steps to keep the cameras safe and secure. Any incidents are to be reported to KPB promptly.

Use the buttons at the bottom of the form to navigate forward and backwards (not your browser’s back button) in the pages of the application. If you are not able to complete the application in one session, click the “Save and Continue Later” button at the bottom of each page. You will receive a unique link to continue later, which will only be valid for 30 days.

Applicant Requirements

  • Eligible organizations include municipalities, townships, boroughs, cities, counties, government agencies, as well as non-profit organizations within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Private property owners or individuals are not eligible. Back roads, urban alleys, empty lots, and recycling centers are common sites.
  • Applicants may list one or more potential sites on the application. One sight will be selected initially for the installation. (However, cameras may be moved to other sites with KPB’s knowledge.)
  • Applicants are required to submit at least four photos per site (photos should be sent electronically in a jpg format) of their targeted site. Photos must clearly show the relative size of the dumpsite, site contents, surrounding landscape/terrain, and be from more than one angle.
  • Recipients must submit the Permission to Enter Form signed by the private property owner prior to the distribution of cameras or training. Award letters are valid pending signed permission.
  • Recipients must agree to maintain surveillance cameras. Recipients will help collect evidence of illegal dumping and follow through with prosecutions, partnering with local and state enforcement agencies as applicable. Recipients will work with local media and KPB to educate the public about the costs of illegal dumping to their community by publicizing prosecutions and cleanup details. Recipients will submit progress reports and a final report, as well as provide copies of citations and photos used in prosecutions.