Illegal dumping hurts us all. It affects public health and safety. It decreases property values and the quality of life in our communities.

What is illegal dumping?

Illegal dumping is the improper disposal of waste. Illegal dumping often occurs on remote roads and in isolated areas. Illegal dumping also happens in and around business and apartment dumpsters, residential property and public property such as parks, boat ramps and camping areas.

Typical dumpsites contain household garbage; large bulky items such as appliances, furniture, yard waste and tires; and construction and demolition debris. In Trinity County it also includes abandoned vehicles.

How does illegal dumping affect you, your community and our environment? Illegal dumpsites:

• Trash attracts rats, which carry diseases. Tires are a breeding ground for mosquitoes – carriers of diseases like West Nile Virus.
• Are dangerous to children who play around these sites. Illegal dumpsites contain sharp objects and/or hazardous chemicals and drug paraphernalia.
• Can lower property values.
• Are unsightly and costly to clean up.
• Can pollute our rivers and streams.
• Can make areas more susceptible to flooding when waste blocks ravines, creeks, culverts, and drainage basins.
• May contaminate wells if the dumpsite contains chemicals.
• Can cause a fire, either by spontaneous combustion or by arson.
• Invite more illegal dumping, if not cleaned up.

Don’t let illegal dumping negatively impact you and your community. Help protect our environment by reporting illegal dumpsites as soon as you see them.

Trinity County Illegal Dumping Ad Hoc Committee

Trinity County Board of Supervisors authorized the Illegal Dumping Ad Hoc Committee in August 2005. It is made up of representatives from many different agencies and organizations. This committee was asked to develop recommendations to reduce illegal dumping. The committee has brainstormed the root causes of the illegal dumping problem and come up with solutions help win the war against trash. To date the Ad Hoc Committee has:

• Created a “Keep Trinity County Beautiful” Campaign to help prevent illegal dumping.
• Set up a toll free hotline—1-888-NO DUMPN with funds from a matching grant for residents to call in illegal sites.
• Published two articles in local newspapers about the illegal dumping issue.
• Created an amendment to the County Ordinance regarding vehicle abatement, and a Memorandum of Understanding that can be used for partnerships with private landowners that have found illegally-dumped abandoned vehicles on their land.
• Promoted increased investigation and prosecution of guilty parties with a “short form” that reduces law enforcement officers’ time in filling out the initial reports to begin a prosecution.
• Partnered with the local Channel 22 TV station to cover the issue.
• Investigated the surveillance equipment options that will help in future prosecution of illegal dump cases.
• Submitted three proposals to the California Integrated Waste Management Board to clean up illegal dump sites on forest lands and been awarded $179,480 for addressing 46 sites throughout Trinity County.

The ad-hoc committee continues to work on other options available to stop the illegal dumping and is drafting a Round IV grant proposal that will continue our countywide effort to Keep Trinity County Beautiful. Thank you for your support.

How do I report illegal dumping?

The new Trinity County Illegal Dumping Hotline has been set up to receive calls about illegal dumping. Staff will record your complaint and direct it to the appropriate agency for follow-up action. Please call 888-No-Dumpn (1-888-663-8676).