CIWMB Press Room Archives

Illegal Dumpsites Targeted with Cleanup Money from Waste Board  

SACRAMENTO -- Illegal dumps in three counties are the target of a $879,436 funding package approved by the California Integrated Waste Management Board. The Board is one of six departments and boards in the California Environmental Protection Agency.

"The dumping of trash where it doesn't belong not only threatens the public and environment, but creates examples of visual blight and can devalue property," said Waste Board Chair Linda Moulton-Patterson.  "What is especially troubling is the fact that many illegally dumped materials are recyclable, so those who are responsible are really throwing resources and money away."

Most of the sites are close to homes or sensitive environmental features.  Much of the trash consists of common household waste, whose unregulated accumulation has resulted in public health hazards.  

One project that will benefit from the cleanup funds involves the removal of trash from storm water drain sites that empty into the Los Angeles River, a man-made concrete culvert that funnels rainwater and urban runoff directly to the ocean.

The Board approved the following cleanup funding projects yesterday:

Butte County

Snake Road Illegal Disposal Site––On a two-mile stretch of highway southeast of the City of Oroville, are an estimated 265 cubic yards of trash in 15 separate piles. The Waste Board approved $30,000 to clean up the mess of discarded furniture and appliances, waste tires, landscape cuttings, shards of broken glass, and metal fragments. In addition, containers suspected of being used in the illicit production of methamphetamine have been observed in some of the trash.

The trash is on county road right-of-way property. The furniture and appliances have attracted scavengers. All the 15 different sites are unfenced and some are within a mile of homes and next to a seasonal creek.

A Waste Board contractor will haul all unrecyclable items to a landfill for disposal. Metal debris, appliances, and tires will be hauled separately to recycling facilities, while the county will remove hazardous household wastes for proper disposal or recycling. The Butte County Health Department has also agreed to remove the methamphetamine waste and further assist the Board by negotiating reduced landfill tipping fees for the trash removed from the Snake Road sites, monitoring the restored property and surrounding areas in the future, installing "No Dumping" signs and barriers to discourage any subsequent illegal disposal, and continuing local education efforts to curb such activity.

Los Angeles County

8th and 6th Streets Storm Drain Outfall Sites––Trash and other wastes that accumulate at storm drain outfall sites and spread downstream to beaches, urban streams, and wetlands is a significant pollution problem in southern California. The 8th and 6th Streets storm drain outfall sites in downtown Los Angeles are two major sources of pollution in the Los Angeles River. Besides the trash, other associated pollutants include bacteria, viruses, oil, grease, nutrients, metals, and toxic chemicals. These sites receive urban runoff from an area larger than 1,000 acres with sources of pollution concentrated from food processing, commercial, and transportation-related businesses, and estimated 3,000 homeless people.

The Waste Board has agreed to help clean up these sites with a grant of $584,136, to be matched by the city. The money will be used to help the Los Angeles Stormwater Division (LASD) install systems at both sites to consolidate and remove the accumulated wastes, which collect within 1,000 feet of commercial and industrial properties and the Los Angeles River. LASD will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the systems, as well as for ensuring compliance with California Environmental Quality Act laws, contract procurement, design, construction quality, and required building and operating permits.

With the city's matching funds, the total cost of the cleanup project is estimated to top $1.4 million.

Llano Illegal Disposal Site––In eastern Antelope Valley of the county, south of State Highway 138, unknown parties have dumped an estimated 1,000 cubic yards of solid waste in several parcels next to the California Aqueduct. Most of the waste––800 cubic yards––lies on property owned by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Homes are located less than a mile from some of the trash.

The Board approved a $154,000 cleanup project for the site to remove household trash, construction and demolition debris, furniture, appliances, vehicles, tires, and landscape cuttings. Some of the waste was routinely burned over the years and additional trash lines a natural drainage, exposing the water to contamination. All recyclable items will be hauled to recycling facilities. Nonsalvageable items will be landfilled. Hazardous household wastes will be properly disposed and the DWR will fence off its property against further dumping.

Sonoma County

McIlvain Illegal Disposal Site––In the Porter Creek area of the county, the Board will spend up to $111,300 to have the county remove 2,000 cubic yards of household, construction and demolition, furniture, appliances, metals, waste tires, and other materials from private property. The county will rely on prison labor for the cleanup project, hauling salvageable items to recycling plants and disposing of the rest. Much of the garbage is within a half-mile of homes and Porter Creek.

The county will lien the property on behalf of the Board for the cost of the cleanup and related expenses.

Since 1994, the Waste Board's Solid Waste Disposal and Codisposal Site Cleanup Program has approved 141 sites for funding and completed remediation or abatement efforts at more than 105 locations.

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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