The property at 22027 Connells Prairie Road was included on Pierce County Respond's Dirty Dozen list in April of 2002 and arguably remains the single worst illegal dump site in the County. An illegal recycling business was run on eight acres of the parcel. It led to the accumulation of 150,000 tons of waste glass, gypsum, household garbage, and construction/demolition debris.
In December of 2002 the property was acquired by Pierce County as a tax title property. One year later, the property owner pled guilty to misdemeanors for illegal dumping, zoning violations, and maintaining a public nuisance. He was sentenced to two concurrent one-year sentences, two 90-day sentences, and $12,000 in fines.
Since 2002, the County has worked to clean up the property. This includes:
- Waste characterization of the accumulated material
- Wetland evaluation to assess damage to wetland and surrounding buffer
- Clean up and disposal of over 17,000 tons of household garbage, demolition debris, and contaminated wood chips and soil
- Removal of 43 drop box containers and their contents
Pierce County has spent more than $1 million to clean up and monitor the Connells Prairie Illegal Landfill. Although improvements have been made, the site remains a depository for what remains of the estimated 150,000 tons of material accumulated by the former property owner.
