Ventura County Public Works Agency urges general public, businesses to not dump on County roads

In an effort to curb illegal dumping on County roads, the Ventura County Public Works Agency is urging the community to use caution when disposing of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

The VCPWA Transportation Department and Integrated Waste Management Division are finding that businesses and the general public who generate hazardous and non-hazardous waste often find the process of disposal to be complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. These difficulties have led them to risk fines by illegally dumping or abandoning hazardous and non-hazardous waste in the trash, down the drains, or onto County roads. Such careless actions endanger the health and safety of sanitation workers and the general public,as well as pollute community water supplies.

“Ventura County Public Works is taking steps to prevent businesses from disposing of questionable waste and keeping our roadways clean,” said  Raul Gallo, Roads Engineer for Ventura County Public Works Agency Transportation Department. “Raising awareness and creating programs that assist the community to save time and money to safely dispose of waste is our main focus.”

Businesses that generate more than 220 pounds (approximately 27 gallons) of hazardous waste per calendar month, or no more than 2.2 pounds of acutely hazardous waste in that calendar month are considered a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG). These businesses are invited to bring their hazardous wastes on the 4th Saturday of each month to the County’s Business Hazardous Waste Collection Event.

“The County’s website has a wealth of information on the types of hazardous and large non-hazardous waste, such as furniture, tires, oil, and paint, and the safe ways to dispose of them, as well as available waste disposal facilities in the County,” explains Gallo.

For more information on VCPWA’s Integrated Waste Management Division servicesand its waste-disposal facilities, visit http://pwa.ventura.org/water-sanitation-department/integrated-waste-management