Foreclosure Situation Is Seeing an Increase in Unlawful Dumping
The foreclosure situation is seeing an increasing in unlawful dumping. Solano County is being literally trashed in many ways.
The officials of the country are reporting many illegal dumping incidents and it is costing taxpayer’s money to clear up the mess – a staggering $320,000 to $350, 000 is the estimate.
The Environmental Health Department and the office of the Sheriff have joined hands with Environmental Crimes Unit to save a sizeable amount and also to punish the miscreants. Funds for the operations are being provided by Land Enforcement Agency. The team will be functioning as the Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Program.
Endeavours have already started to show results since the team made its debut on 12th January 2009. One person has been arrested and many cases are being probed. In 2008 many incidents of dumping of appliances, furniture etc had been reported. Each report was followed up by the county personnel clearing the mess and taking to the nearest dumpsite.
There are two landfill sites in the county and the charges for using these are not too high. Per visit the cost is about $12 – equivalent to a couple of drinks or a fast food eat for two. But today in the foreclosure climate even this much is proving to be a strain on the budgets of many. This has led to the growth of a littering culture with a nonchalant attitude to the environment. If society does not care for the individual why should the reverse hold true? But eyesores are intolerable and putting up with them is not the answer to the solution of the troubled times.
Since the start of the operations 96 cases have been noted. All sorts of items have been dumped – car tyres, Christmas trees, old refrigerators and you name it. The recent spike in foreclosures has increased the problem of dumping. Many householders hire workers (some unlicensed) to dispose of unwanted items that would have been left behind when families move out. To save money the evicted families are now dumping the trash on rural highways. In many cases the abandoned foreclosed house itself becomes a dumpsite. People are trespassing and leaving their rubbish in the open spaces like the garage or lawn.
Recently an ordinance has been passed on dumping and the California highway patrol is giving a helping hand in reporting incidents.
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