Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. and Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt contend there is an “epidemic” sweeping across the township - not the effects of a disease or health concern, but rather the impact on the environment from the dumping of household items along the sides of roads.

Dutt brought up the vexing problem in his report during the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners meeting Jan. 9. He said the discarding of items is widespread in the township, and the issue of scofflaws who heave the materials onto private and public sites needs to be addressed.

“It’s a problem in the Valley,” Hozza said, and Whitehall is not exempt from it.

Dutt agreed the tossing of materials throughout the township is problematic. The issue, which includes discarding items ranging from smaller television sets to larger box springs and mattresses, and everything in between, is a great concern to township officials.

Hozza confirmed the township will install surveillance cameras at undisclosed locations in attempts to “catch them in the act,” Hozza said, adding this needs to be in place in order to have the persons arrested.

Commissioners discussed the possibility the unwanted junk is perhaps coming from outlying communities where residents choose their own refuse haulers. In those cases, some materials are not accepted by haulers, leaving residents to dispose of the materials on their own.

Residents of Whitehall Township can take advantage of the environmental advisory council’s yearly recycling event, which accepts electronic devices among other items.

Another source of trash piling up, according to Hozza, is when materials are blown off trucks. The mayor cited one incident when a large amount of paper products - bags, cups and more - en route to a fast-food restaurant was found in the area of Route 22 and the surrounding ramps.