Clean up Our American Lands and Streams (COALS) is a program to remove illegally dumped garbage, trash and tires through a partnership among environmental organizations, schools, business and industry, and local, county and state governments. The program was piloted in Columbia and Northumberland counties and has expanded to over 15 counties.  It is hoped that the program will be implemented statewide over the course of the next several years.

The COALS program is a multi-faceted initiative, which includes volunteer and contractor cleanups, education and outreach, surveillance, enforcement, and beautification projects. 159 illegal dumpsites in Luzerne County containing 1,724 tons of trash have been identified by a survey prepared by PA Cleanways in 2007. According to the survey, thirty two (32) municipalities (42%) in Luzerne County have illegal dumping activities.  Twenty one percent (21%) of the dump sites were in the vicinity of a water-body or waterway, while four percent (4%) of the sites have waste directly in the waterway itself.  Hard to dispose of items, such as tires, appliances, and other bulky waste items were the most common materials found at the dumpsites.  Steel, abandoned cars, mattresses, aluminum cans, glass, plastic bottles, newspapers, magazines and cardboard were also found.

Although illegal dump sites were identified in only 42% of the municipalities in Luzerne County by the PA Cleanways survey, all residents of Luzerne County (population of 319,250 in seventy-six (76) municipalities) are impacted by illegal dumping. Local communities, human health, the economy and the environment are all negatively impacted by illegal dumping. Disease spreading rodents and mosquitoes are commonly found at dump sites.  Tire dump sites are of particular concern because they are havens for mosquitoes, which are carriers of the West Nile Virus. The impacts to human health by illegal dumping are seen well beyond the boundaries of a dump site. The use of the illegal drug, methamphetamine, is growing in Luzerne County, as well as, other illegal drugs.  Needles and other drug paraphernalia have been found at dump sites. Illegal dump sites impact the local economy by reducing property values at the dump sites, as well as, the surrounding area, negatively impact tourism and negatively affecting the ability to attract new businesses and industry to the region. Environmental impacts from illegal dumping include soil, surface and groundwater pollution.  Toxic materials have been found at dump sites in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Impacted drinking water supplies can affect many residents living well beyond the boundaries of the dump sites. Several pile tires have caught fire resulting in toxic fumes being released into the air and impacting surrounding residents.  Over 50 underground mine fires exist in Pennsylvania, including one mine fire in the Wyoming Valley.  Nearly all the mine fires were started with illegally dumped materials catching on fire and igniting a coal seam in crop falls or mine pits.  These mine fires not only negatively impact the air quality but also the local economy and quality of life of local residents.