Technical Advisory Committee

IDTAC logoBackground

The Illegal Dumping Technical Advisory Committee (IDTAC) provides ongoing expertise for CalRecycle and the state of California, is comprised of voluntary members, and is not required to function under the statutory requirements of a legislative or department-created committee. Started as a Task Force in 2006, the group evolved into today’s technical advisory committee and relative subcommittees given the long-term problems associated with illegal dumping. The IDTAC continues to assess the extent and cost of the illegal dumping, while sharing their findings, best practices, and strategies in the Illegal Dumping Resources Toolbox.

2020 Work Plan

The IDTAC identified the need to update its original work plan. The 2020 Work Plan entails developing fresh resources and tools for jurisdictions, communities, contractors, and others to assist in addressing current illegal dumping issues.

Focused Topics have included Homeless Encampments and Abandoned Vehicles.

Subcommittees

Subcommittees are comprised of IDTAC members and interested persons who assist the IDTAC on specific illegal dumping issues. Updates on subcommittee activities are provided during IDTAC meetings. To get involved in a subcommittee, please contact the subcommittee chair (see contact info in Committee Member table below) or IllegalDumping@calrecycle.ca.gov.

Get Involved

Attend quarterly meetings (listed below), join a subcommittee, share illegal dumping concerns and content via email or at meetings, contribute to the Illegal Dumping Toolbox, subscribe to the Illegal Dumping Listserv, become an IDTAC member, and/or email IllegalDumping@calrecycle.ca.gov to start the conversation of how to get involved.

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Strategy Subcommittee (Chair: Tedd Ward)

Develop strategies for:

  • Guidance for creating and facilitating local and regional partnerships with public agencies, private entities, and/or non-profits
  • Measures for establishing and maintaining cleanup programs
  • Identifying available funding resources
  • Development of benchmarks or methods to gauge program effectiveness
  • Addressing and incorporating environmental justice into programs

Outreach Subcommittee (Interim Chair: Sarah Sanders)

Develop concepts for:

  • Education and outreach methods for preventing illegal dumping, including measures to facilitate community involvement including reward programs
  • Property owners to address illegal dumping on their property
  • Effective tools for discouraging future incidents
  • Applications to report illegal dumping activities
  • Effective news and social media outreach and involvement to publicize illegal dumping convictions including case studies

Standards Subcommittee (Chair: Larry Sweetser)

Develop standards related to:

  • Cleanups of illegal dumping sites
  • Identify levels for training personnel involved in cleanups
  • Develop consistent data collection criteria
  • Identify guidance for reporting and tracking cleanup costs
  • Updating homeless encampments cleanup guidance
  • Health and safety measures

Enforcement Program Subcommittee (Co-Chairs: Gonzalo Barriga & Vacant)

Develop methods for creating effective enforcement tools including:

  • Available federal, state, local solid waste codes, ordinances, administrative orders, and other measures available as enforcement tools
  • Case studies on effective enforcement and deterrents to illegal dumping
  • Guidance on developing local Illegal Dumping Enforcement Officers and enforcement teams
  • Measures that can hinder implementation of enforcement programs and potential prosecution
  • Examples of how to document evidence successfully.
  • Information on effective surveillance systems

Group addresses general enforcement (program) inquires since many members detail enforcement strategies through other respective organizations. Group promotes training opportunities for the enforcement community and oversees the Toolbox Enforcement webpage.

Quick Links

IDTAC Meetings

Upcoming Technical Advisory Committee Meetings

February 21, 2024, 12:30–4:00 pm

Sign up for the Illegal Dumping listserv to receive updates about future meetings and illegal dumping resources. IllegalDumping@calrecycle.ca.gov for additions, questions. Meetings are virtual unless otherwise specified.

Past Technical Advisory Committee Meetings

Technical Advisory Committee Members

For a list of past advisory committee/task force members and committee history, please see Illegal Dumping Task Force and Technical Advisory Committee History.

Committee MemberAffiliationContact
Larry Sweetser (Chair)Environmental Services Joint Powers Authoritysweetser@hazman.us
Gonzalo Barriga (Vice Chair)Metropolitan Water District of Southern Californiagbarriga@mwdh2o.com
Erin Armstrong, representing Supervisor Nate MileyAlameda County/ California State Association of CountiesErin.Armstrong@acgov.org
Doug Kobold California Product Stewardship Councildoug@calpsc.org
Mark Azzouni,
Benjamin Schiesser
California Hazardous Materials Investigators Association (CHMIA)president@chmia.com,
bay.area.director@chmia.com
Marr ChristianCity of San Bernardino Code Enforcementchristian_ma@sbcity.org
Mark De BieCalRecyclemark.debie@calrecycle.ca.gov
PendingLeague of California Cities
Carlos DuqueCity of Elk Grove Public Works, Recycling and Wastecduque@elkgrovecity.org
Justine Fallon/Taylor GrimesMattress Recycling Counciljfallon@mattressrecyclingcouncil.org 
tgrimes@mattressrecyclingcouncil.org
Maria FerdinMonterey County Illegal Dumping Task ForceFerdinme@co.monterey.ca.us
Christine Flowers/Cecile CarsonKeep California Beautifulcflowers@csus.edu
carson@cdcarson.com
Traci GlavesPublic Member Representativesjdeltaneighborhoodwatch@gmail.com
Rob HutselSan Diego River Park Foundationrhutsel@sandiegoriver.org
Gary HarrisCity of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services, Investigation and Enforcement Divisiongary.harris@lacity.org
Ted HortonSacramento Co. Dept. of Waste Management & Recyclinghortont@saccounty.net
Jaron Brandon Supervisor Tuolumne Countyjbrandon@co.tuolumne.ca.us
Nick LapisCalifornians Against Wastenicklapis@cawrecycles.org
Avneet MahilCity of Manteca, Solid Waste Association of North Americaamahil@ci.manteca.ca.us
Eva MannCity of Richmond Code Enforcementeva_mann@ci.richmond.ca.us
Trent ManningCalTranstrent_manning@dot.ca.gov
Veronica PardoResource Recovery Coalition of Californiaveronica@resourcecoalition.org
Heidi SanbornNational Stewardship Action Councilheidi@nsaction.us
Alyce Sandbach/Jennifer (Kibbe) DayAlameda County DA’s Office/San Joaquin County DA’s Officealyce.sandbach@acgov.org 
Jennifer.Day@sjcda.org
Tedd WardDel Norte Solid Waste Management Authoritytedd@recycledelnorte.ca.gov
Sara Weaver California Conservation Corps Region IIIsara.weaver@ccc.ca.gov
Olympia WilliamsCity of San Jose BeautifySJ Initiativeolympia.williams@sanjoseca.gov
Tom MattsonCounty Engineers Association of Californiatmattson@co.humboldt.ca.us
Jeff Lamoure, Jason PhillippeCalifornia Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH)jefflamoure@co.imperial.ca.us, jphillippe@placer.ca.gov (alternate)
Garen KazanjianRecologyGKazanjian@recology.com

For more information contact: Illegal Dumping, IllegalDumping@calrecycle.ca.gov