An illegally dumped range and other debris line the shoulder of Airport Boulevard in Watsonville. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

The County of Santa Cruz has begun installing surveillance cameras at key locations in unincorporated areas of the County to help prevent illegal dumping, a strategy to protect the environment and help keep Santa Cruz County clean.

Illegal dumping costs local taxpayers nearly half a million dollars annually in cleanup costs, county officials said. Although signage and fines are in place, surveillance cameras have been installed at three locations to increase prevention efforts. Violators caught on camera face fines of up to $500 along with restitution costs.

Cameras are now operational, and enforcement efforts are underway. Additional camera locations are also being considered.

Residents are encouraged to utilize the GreenWaste Bulky Item Collection Program, Overages Program, or the recyclables collection program, which offers three free pickups per year for GreenWaste customers living in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. The Bulky Item Collection Program allows for the proper disposal of large items such as furniture and appliances.

To schedule a pickup, visit bit.ly/greenwaste-scc or call 426.2711. Learn about Illegal Dumping at bit.ly/stop-illegal-dumping.

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Tarmo Hannula has been the lead photographer with The Pajaronian newspaper in Watsonville since 1997. More recently Good Times & Press Banner. He also reports on a wide range of topics, including police, fire, environment, schools, the arts and events. A fifth generation Californian, Tarmo was born in the Mother Lode of the Sierra (Columbia) and has lived in Santa Cruz County since the late 1970s. He earned a BA from UC Santa Cruz and has traveled to 33 countries.

1 COMMENT

  1. James Mahoney.

    The Real Person!

    Author James Mahoney. acts as a real person and verified as not a bot.
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    The Real Person!

    Author James Mahoney. acts as a real person and verified as not a bot.
    Passed all tests against spam bots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    And are these cameras monitored 24/7 ? If not who is going to enforce these violations after the fact? These are misdemeanors or infractions and the person cannot be cited or arrested by law enforcement being the incident is past tense. If you don’t have a license plate on the vehicle how are you going to track down the responsible? Looks good on paper, but in reality there will be little or no accountability.

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