PD Editorial: Roadside trash
Community groups may be able to pick up where county left off
Sonoma County, as a cost-cutting measure, has stopped collecting trash dumped alongside county roads.
KENT PORTER / The Press Democrat, 2008Published: Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 5:45 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 5:45 p.m.
Amid the fiscal crisis that engulfs the government of Sonoma County, many things are being left by the wayside — including couches, washers and dryers.
As Staff Writer Derek Moore reported on Monday, the county no longer has the funds to pick up items, large and small, that are illegally dumped on the sides of county roads.
Until recently, the county’s Public Works and Transportation Department was responsible for picking up and disposing of that trash. But with the county facing a projected budget deficit of more than $60 million, the department has had to cut back. And this is one of the programs that had to go.
County officials can’t be blamed. This financial crisis is not of their making. Moreover, this reduction in service is relatively minor in comparison to other cuts that have occurred or are in the works.
Nevertheless, the trash can’t be allowed to accumulate as it only sends the signal that people may dump their unwanted items in Sonoma County with impunity.
Some county officials hope that community organizations, service clubs and civic-minded individuals who are concerned about the environment might be willing to pick up where the county has left off. It’s not a bad idea.
The county can help by making sure that those who pick up discarded items won’t be stuck with a heavy-duty bill when it comes time to dispose of those items at the landfill or some other site.
County residents also can help by making sure that when they hire someone to haul away their old appliances and other trash they see some kind of evidence that the items were disposed of properly.
Some blame the increase of roadside waste on the economy, which has left many people without affordable options for getting rid of their stuff. Others blame it on small-scale trash haulers who are looking to save a buck by just tossing their hauls on the sides of the roads.
Whatever the cause, the county and the community at large need to work together to deal with it.
One thing that’s unchanged is the county’s toll-free hotline for reporting illegal dump sites: (877) 565-DUMP. Someone will hear the message, county officials promise. But the county needs many people to answer the call.
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.