Rural Counties Clean Up with State Grants: Waste Board provides aid to clean up illegal dumping

SACRAMENTO--The California Integrated Waste Management Board approved $15,700 in grants to help clean up two rural properties in Tehama and Merced County that have been littered with illegally dumped waste. The cleanup of these illegal disposal sites on farm and ranch properties will eliminate the health and safety threat to the public, wildlife, and the environment posed by the waste.

"The devastating impacts on the environment and to public health caused by illegal dumping can be severe," said Board Chair Margo Reid Brown. "These grants assist rural communities that are most affected by illegal dumping. It is the first step in returning these communities to pristine beauty."

The money is primarily used to pay for the removal and proper disposal of small nuisance illegal dump sites containing non-hazardous solid waste, including tires and incidental amounts of household hazardous materials, and for site security measures to prevent recurrence of illegal disposal after the projects are completed. Local governmental agencies, resource conservation districts and tribal groups can request up to $50,000 per cleanup or abatement project and up to $200,000 per fiscal year.

Funds from the Board’s Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant Program are available to help pay for operations to remove piles of trash clandestinely dumped on remote and sparsely populated lands.

Since 1999, the Board has awarded over 100 grants valued at $4.4 million to clean up 300 illegal disposal sites. The Farm and Ranch Program is the Board’s primary program to assist local agencies in combating the problem of illegal dumping of solid waste in rural areas.

At today’s meeting the Board approved the following cleanup grant allocations:

Tehama County--$9,264
This grant will help clean up more than 36 cubic yards of waste, illegally dumped on a 39-acre agricultural-zoned parcel in rural Tehama County. The waste that will be removed is composed of 21 tons of household refuse, 41 appliances, and 326 tires, six pieces of electronic waste and 500 pounds of metal waste. The owners plan to occupy the property and raise cattle once the waste is removed. The site has been fenced to discourage further dumping and warning signs will be posted.

Merced County--$6,434
This grant will reimburse the landowner, for the cleanup of more than 2,000 waste tires illegally dumped on his 440-acre parcel used for crop production. Since fencing is not feasible for this large parcel, surveillance has been increased and warning signs will be purchased and posted to help prevent future illegal dumping.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the state's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes reducing waste whenever possible, managing all materials to their highest and best use and protecting public health and safety and the environment.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

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