State Awards Grants to Clean Up Rural Communities: Waste Board provides funds to target illegal dumping

SACRAMENTO--The California Integrated Waste Management Board approved nearly a half-million dollars in grants to clear trash illegally dumped on rural parcels in northern and southern California.

"The indiscriminate illegal dumping of trash on private property is a serious challenge faced by many cities and counties," said Board Chair Margo Reid Brown. "The Board is committed to protecting the environment and providing landowners assistance in the fight against illegal dumping."

The grants totaling $455,265 will pay for the removal and proper disposal of small trash sites containing non-hazardous solid waste, such as tires and household hazardous materials, plus security measures to prevent recurrence of illegal dumping.

To date, the Board has awarded more than 100 grants totalling $4.4 million under the Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement grant program to clean up well in excess of 300 illegal disposal sites.

At its June meeting, Board members approved the following cleanup allocations:

Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority, $39,200 (Partial Reimbursement)

A 480-acre parcel used to graze cattle and horses for years has been a regular target for illegal dumping. The property is adjacent to Tomki Creek, an important fish-spawning stream.

The new landowner will be reimbursed $2,944.67 for prior cleanup work. The remaining grant goes to the Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority to construct 1.3 miles of fencing to prevent future illegal dumping. The owners will maintain the fence and will install "no dumping" signs.

Sloughhouse Resource Conservation District, $44,073

More than 8,000 waste tires, along with vehicles, household trash and furniture, have been dumped onto the flood plain between the Cosumnes River and Deer Creek. The waste poses a threat to the environment and humans and provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The property is currently in wine grape production.

The landowner is working with the reclamation district to establish a set of locked gates along the levees to restrict access to the site. "No dumping" signs will be posted after the site has been cleaned up.

Sutter County Resource Conservation District, $19,169

Illegally dumped trash has contaminated a fruit orchard in rural Sutter County. The landowner has paid to take many loads of trash to the landfill. In addition to cleaning up the land, "no dumping" signs, fencing and gates are proposed to prevent future dumping.

Western Shasta Resource Conservation District, $28,688

More than 1,000 tires have been illegally disposed of at two sites in Shasta County. Neither landowner knew of the waste tires when the property was purchased. Both sites are active agricultural property, one a dairy and the other a cow/calf operation. Fencing and gates are now in place on both sites and signs will be posted after cleanup.

Western Shasta Resource Conservation District, $54,928

These two parcels have been partially cleaned up using program funds from a previous grant in fiscal year 2006-07. However, more tires have been found, so the applicant is requesting the remaining allowable funding (up to $50,000 per site) to remove the remaining 5,000 waste tires. The sites are zoned for agriculture and have cattle grazing on them. The property is fenced and gated to prevent further dumping.

Yolo Resource Conservation District, $33,795

Concrete, appliances, tires, a vehicle and other miscellaneous trash litter a field used for growing wheat in rural Yolo County. The waste is located in and near a seasonal stream and threatens the crop, the waterway and the health of humans and wildlife. The owners have already removed a great deal of waste, but requested the grant to clear the rest of the waste and repair the stream bank.

Yuba Resource Conservation District, $40,612

The landowner of an orchard where trash has been dumped has taken numerous loads to the landfill and cannot afford to continue the cleanup. The waste, including tires, impedes the landowner’s ability to farm the tract and poses a health and safety threat to humans and the environment. Once the trash is removed, signs, gates and fencing will be installed to prevent future illegal dumping.

Imperial County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services,  $194,800
(Master Agreement Pilot Project With Reimbursement)

The Imperial County Public Health Department has initiated a multi-agency task force that includes key stakeholders and elected officials to facilitate solutions to the pervasive illegal dumping problem in the region. The department, acting as the Local Enforcement Agency, collaborated with the Waste Board to conduct an aerial surveillance flight over the New and Alamo River valleys along the U.S.-Mexico Border to identify illegal solid waste disposal sites.

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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