Senate gives a thumbs-up to Wilk's measure to crack down on illegal dumping

SACRAMENTO – Today the Senate unanimously approved a measure by Senator Scott Wilk, representing the 21st Senate District that would beef-up penalties and enforcement of existing laws against illegal dumping.

Photo Credit : SCV LASD

“The High Desert and other rural communities in California have become the defacto dumping ground for people trying to cut corners and save a buck on properly disposing waste,” said Wilk. “I understand fees are high for legal dumping – and that is an issue – but at the end of the day, families living in rural California should not have to clean up the rest of the state’s trash.”

SB 409 seeks to reduce unlawful dumping by increasing penalties and requiring that property owners obtain state and local permits prior to allowing dumping on their property. The bill also holds truckers responsible for transporting waste for unlawful dumping, and expands the agencies authorized to declare a property a nuisance with unlawfully dumped waste.

Between January of 2017 and March 89 Antelope Valley properties had a Notice of Building Code Violation recorded by the Department of Public Works. Each of these properties had dumping of waste exceeding 50 cubic yards.

“Illegal dumping is bad for the environment, bad for our communities and can be dangerous,” said Wilk. “SB 409 will make it more expensive to violate the law and holds violators on all levels responsible.” The measure received support from CA Association of Professional Scientists, the State’s employed scientists responsible for protecting the public, wildlife, and natural resources from waste and pollution. SB 409 will now go to the Assembly for consideration.