Sen. Scott Wilk gets tough on illegal dumping, new legislation makes it a misdemeanor
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Senator Scott Wilk announced that the Senate Public Safety Committee approved his measure to combat illegal dumping.
Senate Bill 1359 will increase penalties and close a loophole that has enabled the problem for years, especially in rural areas, his offices stated on Tuesday.
“The High Desert has been treated as a dump for too long, but it’s not a dump. It is home to families and vibrant communities, who are routinely disrespected by outsiders destroying their neighborhoods all for a quick buck,” Wilk said.
The senator added that the bill will bring much-needed relief to residents forced to deal with the consequences of this problem, and “bring consequences to those who continue to skirt the law.”
How will SB 1359 benefit the High Desert?
Illegal waste dumping has been pervasive in the High Desert for decades, according to Wilk, who said the problem persists due to a loophole, one which waste haulers and property owners take advantage of for financial gain.
To avoid the permit fees required to dispose of waste properly, haulers work out deals with property owners to dump waste on their land. The landowner profits and the waste hauler pays a lesser fee, Wilk said.
This under-the-table arrangement has led to high volumes of large trucks in residential areas creating loud noise, air pollution, damaged roads, toxic and dangerous substances contaminating the environment, and unsightly heaps of dangerous debris, according to Wilk.
SB 1359 would require a permit for any private property dumping, with or without the owner’s permission. It would also increase mandatory fines for each violation and makes illegal dumping a misdemeanor rather than an infraction.
“By closing this exploitative loophole and imposing stricter penalties, SB 1359 sends a clear message to those who continue to trash the High Desert: enough is enough. You will be held accountable,” Wilk said. “Let’s clean up our communities, protect their health and wellbeing, and show people what a beautiful place this area truly is.”
Keep the High Desert clean
Since its founding in 2017 by Scott Brown, the Pinon Hills-based nonprofit High Desert Keepers has picked up over 1.3 million pounds of trash in the High Desert, the group stated.
A team of over 535 volunteers has combated illegal dumping by participating in nearly 40 organized clean-ups across the region.
Earlier this month, organizers took to Facebook to share a list of upcoming High Desert Keepers cleanups and to say it is the ”busiest month in our history.”
Volunteers conducted clean-ups in Adelanto, assisting the Inland Equity Community Land Trust. They also worked in Llano.
On April 22, Earth Day, they joined the Yuccas Club to clean up the Mojave River Walk. On May 17 and 18 in Lucerne Valley, the newly formed High Desert Keeper Lucerne Valley Group will conduct a clean-up on Milpas Road and the BNSF railroad tracks in unincorporated Apple Valley.
For more information on High Desert Keepers, visit highdesertkeepers.org.
Sen. Scott Wilk represents the 21st Senate District, which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor valleys.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Sen. Scott Wilk gets tough on illegal dumping, new legislation approved
