HUGHESTOWN - The Pennsylvania Environmental Council reported Monday that more than 180 tons of garbage was removed from 28 illegal dump sites in 2009 in Luzerne, Northumberland and Wyoming counties.

The council said 46 tons of scrap metal and 27 tons of tires were also removed from the environment throughout the three counties. More than 332 volunteers donated a total of 1,600 hours by participating in the cleanup activities. Contractors were retained to clean up six of the 28 sites because of steep terrain.

"This is important work because illegal dumping impacts water quality, creates habitats for mosquitoes, decreases property values and endangers public health," said Julie McMonagle, vice president of PEC's Northeast Regional Office.

Pennsylvania American Water Co. donated $4,000 to PEC's 2010 Community Illegal Dumpsite Program and presented the check Monday at the Hughestown Fire Department. A cleanup was held last year at a site near the fire company. The PAWC money will be used to clean up a site in Dupont in April.

"As a water supplier, PAWC is concerned about water-quality issues," McMonagle said. "They want to prevent water pollution."

McMonagle said the PEC has been cleaning up 15 to 20 illegal dump sites per year for about 10 years, but that number has increased in the last three to four years. She said the PEC is a nonprofit organization funded through multiple sources - state, federal and county grants and foundations and sponsorships.

"We have cleaned up many sites in Luzerne County in places like Glen Lyon, Newport Township, Wilkes-Barre city and Sugarloaf Township," McMonagle said. "Most sites are former strip-mining lands. In Luzerne County, we have spent about $150,000 on site cleanups."

She said more than 90 tons of illegally dumped garbage was taken from just one site in Luzerne County.

"It's very difficult to prosecute the illegal dumpers," she said. "But we check the garbage, and if we come across old bills with names and addresses, we will pursue those leads."

McMonagle said the PEC works with another nonprofit organization, Pennsylvania Cleanways, that surveys the region to identify illegal dump sites. Once a site is discovered, meetings are held with the host municipalities and a cleanup is coordinated.

"I'm sure we aren't aware of all illegal sites," McMonagle said. "We welcome anyone with information to contact our office."

The PEC received funding and sponsorships for the cleanup activities from the Earth Conservancy, J.P. Mascaro & Sons, Keystone Sanitary Landfill, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, Pennsylvania American Water, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Waste Management/Alliance Landfill