Nearly half of the estimated $8 million dollars annually raised will go to recycling and enforcement efforts. Coffee County officials say the measure will help cut down on the illegal dumping of garbage.

Old box springs, refrigerators and plain household garbage are a common site along Coffee County Road 709, just outside of Enterprise. Illegal dumps dot the countryside across the Wiregrass.

Last week, Governor Riley signed legislation, which levies a $1-dollar per ton fee on waste disposed at landfills. Part of the revenue will go toward enforcement and cleaning-up the debris.

Coffee Co. Engineer Randy Tindell said, "Illegal dumps are a problem in Coffee County, but really throughout Alabama. And, part of the revenue raised will go toward landfill abatement."

In many cases, it appears that some folks simply have no regard for the environment. They would rather dump in the woods, than pay to properly dispose at a landfill.

Coffee Co. Commissioner Bernest Brooks said, "We must go further in trying to identify those who dump, it’s a health problem, and an eyesore. Maybe, try and find the car tags of those seen doing such dumping."

Several elected officials say illegal dumping is a true blight on the local scenery, and a poor way to look at one's local environment.

Coffee Co. Commissioner J.L. Weeks said, "Yes, we need to do more and try and eliminate the problem as best we can. It’s a situation that really has gotten out of hand in so many ways."

Coffee County code enforcement officers, along with the local health department are involved in trying to identify those individuals who illegally dump garbage into the woods'.