With the increase in Illegal Dumping locally, it has become an issue that can’t be ignored

Public Health & Safety Issue

Environmental Issue

Economic Issue

A Top Priority for our Board of Supervisors, Local Task Force and Residents of San Benito County

IWM Staff and R3 Consulting developed an Illegal Dumping Programs Survey Report, upon surveying selected programs in California.

Illegal Dumping and Litter Abatement Coordinator hired April 2023.

IDCON’23 April 2023. (Three E’s) Education, Eradication, Enforcement.

Increased Illegal Dumping Fines in San Benito County:

From $100, $250, $500 to $2500, $5000, and $10,000.

Public Illegal Dumping Reporting Tool developed (ArcGIS) + ongoing coordination of cleanup efforts for more timely cleanup.

Next: Illegal Dumping Task Force/Coalition.

Surveyed City and County Departments

• Public Works, Code Enforcement, Sheriffs, Office, P.D., Env Health, Public Health, Parks and Rec., Etc.

Gather an understanding of how I.D. is currently handled and prioritized

• This will help us focus our efforts on areas of concern within San Benito County.

Identify gaps in resources and understanding

• This will help us understand what gaps need to be filled and assist with program development

Identify overlap among existing efforts

• This will help us be more efficient with our efforts.

Use the information gathered to improve programs and to develop a county-wide task force/coalition.

Support received from all Departments

Pending bandwidth and staff availability.

Departments were working ‘in silos’ when addressing I.D.

Minimal coordinated efforts to address the issue.

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Certain key resources were needed to be put in place to run a successful program

Reporting tool/Tracking Log

Eradication Teams

Enforcement Protocols (Citation Booklet, Training for Officers, etc.)

Preventative measures at known hotspots.

Cameras/Signs/Fencing

Increased Targeted Education and Outreach

Recology Franchise Agreement – 5 tons of abandoned solid waste/month per jurisdiction

Along their existing haul route

City and County Public Works

Along the Public right-of-way.

San Jose Conservation Corps*

Eradicate dumping at areas PUBW and Recology cannot address.

Current Outreach Efforts

Farmers Markets

Resource Fairs

Networking Events

County Fair

Social Media Posts

Schools

Educational Workshops for residents, businesses, and city/county departments.

Mattress Recycling Council RFP – MFD Door-to-Door Outreach

Public Education Plan –Recology Zero Waste Team

This work is ultimately to create a regional task force that addresses the 3 E’s of illegal dumping across the 3 jurisdictions in San Benito County

Monterey County Illegal Dumping and Litter Abatement Task Force

Alameda County Illegal Dumping Task Force

IDTAC and Subcommittees

By sitting in on these different task forces/subcommittees, I gained valuable insight into

• How to run meetings smoothly and effectively.
• What other jurisdictions are doing in regards to the 3 E’s.
• How to collaborate with local municipalities to address this issue.

Illegal Dumping requires coordinated efforts among different departments in order to be fully addressed.

Task Forces/Coalitions are a great way to bring everyone to the table to share information and collaborate on these efforts, rather than working in silos.

Understanding the current state of illegal dumping is important when developing a task force/coalition.

This will allow staff to analyze the gaps in resources and understanding.

Fill vacancies to run a smooth and efficient program.

A formal Task Force has not been developed in San Benito County, but we are making strides toward bringing everyone together soon and hold Quarterly Meetings.