illegal dumping - Pinal County Attorney's Office

New initiative launches to curb illegal dumping

December 8, 2021/in News

FLORENCE - A new rewards program will provide a monetary incentive for residents to submit tips and information on those illegally dumping items in the desert as part of a revamped effort to curb the issue across Pinal County.

Pinal County is a beautiful place to live, work and play. However, the amount of tires, mattresses and other items littered across the desert is unacceptable and an eye sore. The Pinal County Attorney’s Office is launching a ‘rewards program’ that will provide a $500 reward to tipsters who submit information on people illegally dumping items if the tip leads to charges in the case.

“This is a problem that we need the whole community to help us solve,” said Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer.

Pinal County has also created a new, simplified online page to direct residents to any resource they are seeking. This includes how to properly dispose of bulky items, when and where to find community cleanups, and how to report an illegal dump site.

“We wanted a one stop shop with all the information that people would need to do the right thing,” Volkmer said. “We are really excited and hopeful that this new program is going to cut down on illegal dumping and hold those that do dump accountable.”

The new online site, which includes the submission form for the rewards program, officially launched Wednesday, December 8^th.

“There’s no longer the excuse of, ‘I didn’t know what to do with it,” Volkmer said. “All of the information is now at the end of your fingertips.”

You can find the new online page HERE.

The revamped effort to address this issue is truly a county-wide effort. The Pinal County Attorney’s Office would like to thank public works, public health, the IT department, communications and marketing and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office for their contributions and participation in this effort to #KeepPinalPristine.

Community group helping pick up trash

August 13, 2021/in News

CASA GRANDE - The Pinal County Attorney's Office would like to extend a special thank you to community members who are going above and beyond to pitch in and pick up trash in their neighborhoods.

One such group is located in Casa Grande.

"This is our town," said resident Megan Sanders. "We should take pride in it."

Sanders helped start a grassroots group that organizes a community cleanup every few weeks around Casa Grande. The group, titled Rooster Club Desert Clean-Up, decides what locations to target and consists of more than 200 members, and counting, who have joined their Facebook page.

"It was, 'it needs to get done and if no one else is going to do it, we're going to step up and do it," Sanders said of the initiative to begin the cleanups.

The group's latest cleanup occurred this past Saturday, at the intersection of McCartney Road and Pinal Avenue in Casa Grande.

"A lot of us that have founded the group are the ones who have bought trash bags," Sanders said. "We've paid for dump fees."

Sanders' son Brody, 12, also takes part in the cleanup effort.

"It's been really fun," Brody Sanders said. "It's a good way to bring the community together."

As you might imagine, the group comes across all sorts of trash and improperly disposed of items during their cleanups.

"Mattresses, shelving...couches," Sanders said. "Pillows, trash, stacks of bills that should be shredded."

That's not all.

"We found a whole entire boat," Brody Sanders said.

That brought about a little laugh.

"Yeah, there was a boat," Megan Sanders said.

The group is planning another community cleanup in September, although the exact location is yet to be determined. They are looking for others to join, and have seen increased interest as their effort grows and after they were recently featured in a local news story. They hope to continue making a difference while also encouraging those who are dumping the trash and debris to stop.

"We as adults can do better," Sanders said. "Ultimately, that's what I hope, is that if we each do a little bit better, there will be less and less trash."

Pinal County is actively working to ensure residents have adequate information on how - and where - to properly dispose of items. Pinal County is also working to enhance measures to target offenders. Additional information and resources will be rolling out in the coming weeks to further address the issue.

Illegal Desert Dumping

July 29, 2021/in News

Drive around Pinal County and you have likely come across tires, mattresses or other bulky items dumped in the desert.

Illegal dumping is not only an eye sore in our beautiful county, but it often occurs close to residential homes or properties.

County Attorney Kent Volkmer is working to address this issue. Going forward, there will be a focus on community cleanups, finding additional alternative options for residents who need to dispose of old and bulky items, as well as targeting offenders.

You can also find information on illegal dumping on the Pinal County website.

See below a message from County Attorney Kent Volkmer, as well as pictures of illegally dumped items.

Let's keep Pinal County a pristine place to live and play.