Stockton residents may soon be paid for reporting illegal dumping, thanks to a proposed ordinance being presented at next week’s city council meeting by the Stockton Police Department and Department of Public Works. This initiative follows recommendations from the 2023-2024 San Joaquin Civil Grand Jury report, which advocates for a reward system of up to $250 for residents who provide evidence of illegal dumping.
To qualify for the reward, citizens must report license plates of vehicles or trailers involved in illegal dumping, with photo or video evidence, according to the grand jury report. This effort aims to "improve enforcement and prosecution of illegal dumping," a persistent issue costing the county millions each year. The city picks up approximately 2,600 tons of illegally dumped trash annually, at a cost of $1.3 million.
Stockton residents already have tools to report illegal dumping and graffiti, including the My San Joaquin Valley app and the San Joaquin County Public Works website. Those convicted of illegal dumping can face fines up to $10,000 and potential criminal prosecution.
The grand jury report praised the app's effectiveness but criticized the city’s camera network, noting that only four arrests for illegal dumping have been made in the past seven years. Additionally, the report suggested that city and county task forces improve coordination, highlighting a lack of compliance with recommendations from the 2019-2020 Civil Grand Jury report.
Stockton City Manager Harry Black responded to these concerns, acknowledging the ordinance recommendation but disputing claims that the task force fails to meet regularly. He emphasized that the Stockton Police Department has been actively participating in the San Joaquin County Strike Team Task Force, meeting weekly to address illegal dumping and homeless encampment cleanups.
Chad Reed, Stockton’s Director of Public Works, echoed these sentiments during an Aug. 27 special meeting, confirming that both departments are working together to tackle the issue. However, Reed pointed out that the city's cleanup efforts have been impacted by the recent closure of Stockton Recycling, forcing crews to travel to a Lodi transfer station, reducing the number of daily trips by 10.
Vice Mayor Kimberly Warmsley also weighed in, stressing that illegal dumping isn’t solely caused by the homeless population. “I went to a site maybe six months ago... and someone just pulled up and dumped their trash like it was an everyday thing,” Warmsley said.
As Stockton continues to grapple with illegal dumping, this proposed ordinance offers a new approach to encourage civic participation in keeping the city clean. Stocktonia originally reported on this story.