The County of Santa Cruz Department of Community Development and Infrastructure will increase penalties for illegal dumping violations in unincorporated areas. The new fines take effect July 11.
The move follows a vote by the Board of Supervisors to significantly raise fines to help protect the environment, said Tiffany Martinez, departmental communications officer.
Fines will start at $2,500 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for a third. Previously, penalties were set at $100, $200 and $500—which failed to deter illegal dumping by unpermitted haulers and residents, according to Martinez.
Department members say that illegal dumping harms the environment and neighborhood quality of life. Increased fines are the latest measure the county has taken to make Santa Cruz County the cleanest in California. Other efforts include reducing single-use materials, offering free bulky-item pickup through the GreenWaste franchise agreement, improving reporting tools and installing surveillance cameras in illegal dumping hotspots, according to county staff.
Cameras were purchased through funding from Pitch-In Santa Cruz, a program that supports community-based environmental initiatives. The cameras have already resulted in a misdemeanor referral for illegal dumping to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
“This isn’t just about handing out fines, it’s about valuing our shared spaces, protecting the environment and standing up for the communities impacted by illegal dumping,” said Carolyn Burke, assistant director of special services at the Community Development and Infrastructure Department. “By increasing penalties, we’re sending a strong message that Santa Cruz County is serious about stopping this.”
GreenWaste Recovery offers bulky item pickup services. GreenWaste customers in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are eligible for three bulky item pickups and four extra bin setouts per year at no additional cost, making it easier to properly dispose of large or excess waste.
County staff will continue to coordinate efforts with law enforcement and public works staff to track illegal dumping, increase reporting and support cleanup efforts. Community members are encouraged to report illegal dumping incidents through bit.ly/stop-illegal-dumping-sc.
For more information, visit cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov or follow the department on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Nextdoor.
