One call to the police over a dispute between people sharing an apartment turned into quite another thing when authorities made a shocking discovery.
Carabinieri in Guamaggiore, a municipality in Sardinia, Italy, were called to the home of an 82-year-old pensioner who was living with three other individuals, according to L'Unione Sarda. A fight broke out among the four people, and when authorities arrived, they discovered that the courtyard and two adjacent warehouses, totaling about 600 square meters (6,458 square feet), had become a dumping ground for hazardous materials.
The outlet reported that among the materials found were pieces of iron, exhausted batteries, used oil, disused furniture, and vehicle parts. The local health authority declared the area uninhabitable for health and hygiene reasons, and the fire department deemed the building structurally unfit.
All four individuals were charged with illegal management and uncontrolled storage of special, hazardous, and non-hazardous waste. The three individuals were removed from the home, and the 82-year-old was taken into the care of social services and later relocated to the home of a nearby family member.
It is unclear what led to the illegal dumping of waste, but the risk of dumping the materials was a big one. Illegal dumping can contaminate soil, the water supply, and even the air. For example, e-waste from batteries can release a variety of chemicals and heavy metals that can have long-lasting negative health impacts, according to the Geneva Environment Network.
Getting rid of your waste properly is essential to keeping not just your home but also the environment around it clean. It's easy to look up and follow disposal procedures in your area as well as find the right authorities to contact if you witness or suspect illegal dumping.
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