LA County considers move to crack down on Mojave Desert dumping

Topline:

L.A. County officials may crack down on what they call “bad actors” who have dumped trash and “unregulated mulch” in high desert areas of the county.

The backstory: County officials say that huge piles of waste, including food and yard clippings Angelenos throw in their green bins, rise as high as 30-feet in places. L.A. County Supervisors approved a motion on Tuesday's agenda aimed at increasing enforcement against those who take advantage of the wide-open, little-policed land in the Antelope Valley.

Why it matters: As the motion from Supervisor Kathryn Barger states: “Towering piles of waste, which have been found to contain hazardous materials, have become a sight in open spaces throughout north county. These accumulations pose serious health risks, with the potential for hazardous materials to contaminate the soil and water.”

Locals react: “Maybe we're one step closer to actually getting eyes on how big of an issue this is because every single person creates waste, and it's a huge tidal wave coming towards this area,” said Kristina Brown, who has owned a property in the area for about 10 years. “It's only going to get worse before it gets better.”

What’s next: Barger’s motion is aimed at using technology to better monitor remote dumping sites and to identify offenders. It also proposes strengthening requirements around the spreading of green waste, as well as new fines and requirements to hold suppliers of said waste responsible for contaminated loads. County departments involved in the assessment will have 21 days to report back.