Interesting Fact

Unwanted items dumped on private property become the responsibility of the private property owner.

About the Program

• Keep Sonoma Clean Agencies
• Program features
• Program sponsor

Keep Sonoma Clean Agencies

An effective approach for addressing illegal dumping requires an integrated effort among multiple county agencies. The following Sonoma County agencies are participating in Keep Sonoma Clean:

• Department of Health Services, Environmental Health Division.
• Department of Transportation and Public Works, Roads and Integrated Waste (DTPW)
• Sheriff’s Department Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Unit (COPPS)
• Sonoma County Information Services Department

In 2007, these collaborating agencies applied for a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board to organize and implement a new, countywide approach to illegal dumping. That grant was approved by the state, and Keep Sonoma Clean was initiated.

Program Features

Keep Sonoma Clean is a six-element program designed to aggressively combat illegal solid waste dumping and littering along county roadways. Features of the program include the following:

• Illegal dumping remediation to remove and properly discard illegally dumped materials from areas with a high incidence of chronic dumping
• Expedited response to illegal dumping activity for more rapid cleanup of dump sites, and to discourage additional dumping at those locations
• Preventive barriers, signage, lighting and surveillance to make it more difficult for individuals to discard unwanted items illegally, and to identify and catch perpetrators
• Code enforcement enhancements to enable county Hearing Officers to conduct abatement hearings (timely and cost-effective processes for determining whether a dumping violation exists and assessing appropriate penalties)
• Media relations and community outreach to modify attitudes and educate the public about littering and illegal dumping
• Activity monitoring and reporting to determine which combination of methods most successfully prevents illegal dumping.
  

Program Sponsor

Keep Sonoma Clean is sponsored by a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board.

“Funded by a Grant from the California Integrated Waste
Management Board. Zero Waste -- You Make it Happen!”

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