Taking out the trash: task force continues to combat illegal dumping in Pueblo
The Pueblo City County Trash Task Force removed 187 tires and more than 7 tons of trash from illegal dumping sites in 2022.
Community volunteers and partnering agencies teamed up with the task force to collect the trash during two clean-up and five tire disposition events between Jan. 31 and Aug. 18. Crews visited illegal dumping sites throughout Pueblo County, including the corner of Colorado Highway 47 and Neilson Avenue, where a majority of the trash was found.
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On Feb. 19, the task force disposed of 5.53 tons of trash — enough to fill three dumpsters — from near the corner. Less than a week later, crews returned to the site to dispose of 147 tires. Other sites of 2022 cleanup and tire disposition events included Kachina Drive, Damson Street and 2600 N. Freeway Road.
In an effort to address illegal dumping, the Pueblo City County Trash Task Force was created in early 2020 with support from the city of Pueblo, Pueblo County government and the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment.
In addition to hosting cleanup and tire disposition events, the task force identifies individuals suspected of illegal dumping and seeks to hold them accountable. Through the Pueblo City County Trash Task Force Facebook page, an email address and a phone number, community members can contact the task force with reports of illegal dumping in Pueblo.
"We'll go out and investigate," said Desiree Mondragon, environmental health specialist lead at PDPHE. "Generally, that requires trying to find some sort of personal information — somebody's bills or receipt, a pizza box that has their name or address — something that would identify a person."
With funding from the city and county, the task force also has installed 12 cameras throughout "legacy sites" in Pueblo where illegal dumping activity is recurring, Mondragon said. The cameras rotate locations every few months.
Illegal dumping suspects are given a warning and usually agree to clean up the mess within 24 to 48 hours. Noncompliant suspects receive tickets or notices of violation. To date, the task force has identified 85 suspects who have remediated their mess. Four tickets have been issued to noncompliant suspects. Two suspects have received court summonses.
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The trash task force has four cleanup events planned for 2023, the first of which will be held Feb. 11. In addition to searching for a site to clean up, the task force is looking for volunteers.
The task force may be contacted through its Facebook page, by calling 719-583-4323, or by emailing trashtaskforce@pueblocounty.us.
Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo Trash Task Force picked up more than 7 tons of trash in 2022
