Sonoma County Department of Health Services Environmental Health Division
Interesting Fact
Illegal dump sites are a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes, which can transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, viral encephalitis, and even malaria.
Get Involved
- Report dumping in progress
- Report an existing dump site
- Participate in the “Tour de Trash” aka ABC Rides
- List of Community Organizations Hosting Earth Day Cleanup Events 2010
Report Dumping in Progress
If you see an illegal dumping site, and dumping is in progress, contact the law enforcement agency for that area. Be prepared to provide as much information as possible: the location, a description of any vehicle or individual involved, and a license plate number.
Illegal dumping that occurs within city limits should be reported to the local police department. Illegal dumping that occurs in unincorporated Sonoma County should be reported to the Sheriff’s Department. Please see below for the appropriate phone numbers.
| Unincorporated Sonoma County | Sheriff’s Department at (707) 565-2650 or (707) 565-2121 |
| Cloverdale | Police Department at (707) 894-2150 |
| Cotati | Police Department at (707) 792-4611 |
| Healdsburg | Police Department at (707) 431-3377 |
| Petaluma | Police Department at (707) 778-4372, “0” |
| Rohnert Park | Police Department at (707) 584-2600 |
| Santa Rosa | Police Department at (707) 528-5222 |
| Sebastopol | Police Department at (707) 829-4400 |
| Sonoma | Police Department at (707) 996-3601 |
| Windsor | Police Department at (707) 565-2121 |
Report an Existing Dumping Site
If you encounter an existing illegal dump site, please contact the responsible agency in that community. See below for contact numbers for local cities and the unincorporated county.
| Unincorporated Sonoma County | (877) 565-DUMP(3867) |
| Cloverdale | Public Works at (707) 894-1718 |
| Cotati | Public Works at (707) 792-4685 |
| Healdsburg | Public Works at (707) 431-3346 |
| Petaluma | Garbage, Trash, Appliances & Car Parts Report an accumulation of garbage, trash, appliances, old furniture, or scrap materials on private property at (707) 778-4301. Dumped car parts should be referred to the Police Department at (707) 778-4372. |
| Rohnert Park | Public Works at (707) 588-3300 |
| Santa Rosa | Garbage, Trash, Appliances & Car Parts Report an accumulation of garbage, trash, appliances, old furniture, or scrap materials on private property at (707) 543-3231. Dumped car parts should be referred to the Police Department at (707) 543-3600. |
| Sebastopol | If on private property, call (707) 823-8597. If on city property, call Public Works at (707) 823-5331 |
| Sonoma | Public Works at (707) 938-3332 |
| Windsor | Public Works, Street Maintenance Division at (707) 838-1009 |
“Tour de Trash” aka ABC Rides
Ario Bigattini County “ABC” Rides are volunteer road rides where bicyclists locate and record illegal dumping sites along Sonoma County’s back roads. This information is transmitted to Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works for follow up.
The first ABC Rides were held on October 29-30, 2005. Using GPS locators donated by REI of Santa Rosa, bicyclists located and recorded 200 illegal dumping sites from eight rides in two days. ABC Rides received considerable positive attention from the community, and Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works subsequently cleaned up the majority of these sites.
ABC Rides are fun and family-friendly community events that include bike riders of differing abilities. Organized by local cyclists and clubs, they take place in multiple communities, including Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Sonoma on the same weekends. To get involved with future ABC Rides, please check ABC Rides Tour de Trash blog for upcoming events and more information.
To read more about ABC Rides completed in recent years, please see the following links for Press Democrat coverage of these efforts:
ABC Rides is supported by Soulcraft Top Notch Bicycle Frames, EastSide Cycles, REI Santa Rosa, Petaluma Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, Petaluma City Council, Sonoma County Department of Transporation and Public Works and SonomaValleyCyclists.org. ABC Rides is grateful for legal services provided by Friedemann Goldberg LLP.
List of Community Organizations Hosting Earth Day Cleanup Events 2010
What: Periodic one-day events where bicyclists traverse designated areas of Sonoma County and record locations of illegal dump sites.
When: The next ride is tentatively scheduled for Spring, 2010.For specific dates, visit www.abcrides.blogspot.com or email Ario Bigattini at abigatti@gmail.com.
Volunteer Opportunities: Join a group of bicyclists to record locations of illegal dumping in the Petaluma area. This information will be submitted to the County Roads Department, which will subsequently clean up the sites. The group will set out from Helen Putnam Plaza in downtown Petaluma.
How to Volunteer: Visit ABC Rides for details.
What: One-day cleanup events in Bennett Valley that happen twice yearly, once in April and once in October.
When: The spring date is April 10, 2010. Rain cancels until the following Saturday, April 17.
Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers pick up litter, remove graffiti, pull weeds, prune plants, spread mulch and otherwise beautify Bennett Valley.
How to Volunteer: Volunteers pick up litter, remove graffiti, pull weeds, prune plants, spread mulch and otherwise beautify Bennett Valley.
How to Volunteer: For more information, go to Bennett Valley Vision.
City of Santa Rosa – Spring Clean
What: City of Santa Rosa Spring Clean
When: April 24, 2010, 8 a.m. to noon
Volunteer Opportunities: Participants join together to beautify Santa Rosa through a variety of projects, including mural painting, creek cleanups, graffiti removal and many others.
How to Volunteer: Visit City of Santa Rosa – Spring Clean for more information. Contact Ed Buonaccorsi at ebuonaccorsi@srcity.org or (707) 543-3710 to register to volunteer.
What: One-day creek cleanup events held on a regular basis in the Cotati and Rohnert Park areas.
When: Spring dates are April 10, 2010 (9 a.m. to noon) and April 25, 2010 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.), as well as May 8, 2010 (9 a.m. to noon).
Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers primarily restore habitat along the Laguna de Santa Rosa in Cotati and parts of Rohnert Park. Volunteers occasionally pick up litter, as well.
How to Volunteer: Cotati Creek Critters hosts creek stewardship days on the second Saturday and last Sunday of every month, and in cooperation with large groups (15 or more) any day of the week.
The meeting place is at Cotati City well lot # 2 on Lakewood Avenue, and extra parking is available at the parking lot for Ladybug Park on Liman Way in Rohnert Park. Cotati Creek Critters encourages all volunteers to read the Creek Stewardship Day guidelines at www.CotatiCreekCritters.info for information on what to wear and bring; links to directions and maps can be found at the foot of this Web page.
For more information: Cotati Creek Critters Creek Stewardship Days.
Please e-mail Jenny Blaker or call (707) 792-4422 if you have any questions.
What: Earth Day Creek Cleanups
When: April 17, 2010, 9 a.m. to noon
Volunteer Opportunities: Plan on getting dirty as we help native plants and remove garbage. Bring a filled water bottle, snack, and gloves if you have them. Join Sonoma Ecology Center and Sonoma Stream Stewards at one of three locations: Nathanson Creek Preserve (behind Adele Harrison Middle School and Sonoma Valley High School); Fryer Creek (behind Sassarini Elementary School at 652 Fifth St. West); or Maxwell Farms Regional Park at 100 Verano Ave. Parking fees are waived for volunteers. If you are bringing a group of ten or more people to a cleanup, please RSVP to Julie Jehly at julie@sonomaecologycenter.org. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Future cleanup events can be found at www.stewards.sonomacreek.net.
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods
What: Marine Debris Collection
When: April 17, 2010, 10:30 a.m.
Volunteer Opportunities:Volunteers are needed to clean up debris at Bodega Dunes State Park.
How to Volunteer: Meet Program Coordinators Keary and Sally at the restrooms at Bodega Dunes State Park. High tides and storms may cancel or change marine debris dates and/or times. Call Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods if your group is interested in Marine Debris collection on dates not scheduled: (707) 869-9177.
Surfrider Sonoma Coast Chapter
What: Beach cleanups at North Salmon Creek Beach
When: May 31, 2010 (Memorial Day), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed to clean up the beach at Salmon Creek.
How to Volunteer: All beach cleanups are held at from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at North Salmon Creek Beach unless otherwise noted. Look for the Surfrider banner. For additional information call Surfrider Sonoma Coast Director Mike Frey at (707) 664-8257.
Volunteer Center of Sonoma County
What: Hands Across the County – one-day community service events sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County.
When: April 17, 2010.
Volunteer Opportunities: Groups of volunteers undertake a huge range of projects, including creek cleanups, weeding, painting and other tasks.
How to Volunteer: To register online, visit the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County
For more information, contact Maureen Cecil at the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, at mcecil@volunteernow.org or (707) 573-3399, x125.
Volunteer Center of Sonoma County
What: Agilent Environmental Challenge – one-day community service events focusing on the environment. Agilent Challenge events have included planting trees, creek clean-ups & removing invasive plants.
When: April 23, 2010, 1-5 p.m.
How to Volunteer: For more information or to volunteer for a project go to Volunteer Center of Sonoma County. Or contact Maureen Cecil, (707) 573-3399 x 125 or e-mail mcecil@volunteernow.org.
For more information, see the Recycling Guide in the Sonoma County AT&T Yellow Pages® or visit www.recyclenow.org or call the Eco-Desk (707) 565-DESK(3375).
