Illegal Dumping: Trash, Litter, and Green Waste
Preventing trash accumulation and illegal dumping from entering our streets and storm drains helps protect our waterways from pollution. All sources of pollution, including trash and illegal dumping, are prohibited from leaving your property; only rainwater is allowed in the streets and storm drains.
Did you know…
Litter and trash that are not properly disposed of are easily washed into storm drains where they degrade water quality and harm aquatic life.
Besides being unsightly and damaging to the environment, litter and trash can block storm drains and cause flooding.
Releasing pollutants directly or indirectly into the storm drain system is a violation of the County’s Watershed Protection Ordinance (WPO).
What can I do?
Dispose of waste thoughtfully: first considering reusing items or donating them to a charitable organization. Otherwise, find out how to recycle your items and how to haul bulky items at wastefreesd.org.
Use Best Management Practices (BMPs): BMPs are techniques or controls used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants, such as trash, into the storm drain system. BMPs relating to trash and recycling include keeping all waste receptacle lids closed and secured, not placing receptacles near storm drains, and storing waste receptacles indoors or under a roof overhang in between pickups.
Want to learn more?
The resources below provide suggested BMPs and further information on how to protect our waterways. Please click the button to view available languages:
Know before you go…
Place trash containers out only on collection day.
If you would like to report a trash or dumping concern, have questions about our program, or would like additional information call the County Storm Drain Pollution hotline at: 1(888) 846-0800 or e-mail us at watersheds@sdcounty.ca.gov
Thank you for doing your part to protect our waterways!
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