Imperial County Sheriff’s Office cracking down on surge of illegal dumping across the valley
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) — The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a warning to the public following a surge in illegal dumping calls across the region. Law enforcement officials emphasize that discarding trash, tires, and hazardous chemicals on public property is not merely an eyesore—it is a serious environmental crime that carries severe consequences.
The Imperial Valley's vast landscape, which includes sprawling agricultural farmlands, open desert areas, and critical irrigation canals, has become increasingly vulnerable to polluters. Beyond ruining the natural landscape, authorities warn that these dump sites create immediate public health risks and dangerous fire hazards for nearby communities.
Because Imperial County covers such a massive geographical area, deputies face a steep challenge in monitoring every sector. As a result, the sheriff's office is relying heavily on the community to act as extra eyes and ears on the ground.
“Report anytime you see something," said Lieutenant Mike Mistriel of the Imperial County Sheriff's Office. "We want to keep Imperial County beautiful and we don’t want to have piles of trash and things out everywhere. Obviously, the only place for people to dispose of trash is at an appropriate dump site, or if it’s batteries and paint, there’s specific recycling areas for that.”
Investigators stress that timing is critical when it comes to stopping these crimes. The quicker a community member reports an active or fresh dump site, the higher the likelihood that deputies can track down, identify, and prosecute the offenders.
Local officials remind residents that illegal dumping is entirely preventable. The county recently approved mandatory trash collection hauler services for unincorporated areas to align with state environmental laws, eliminating any excuse for self-hauling waste into the desert. Furthermore, every municipal city within Imperial County currently operates specialized residential trash programs designed to handle heavy waste, bulky furniture, and hazardous materials.
Instead of discarding items illegally, community members should utilize the legal, dedicated services provided by their respective city haulers:
El Centro: Residents serviced by CR&R Environmental Services are allotted free curbside bulky item pickups twice a year (up to 4 large items per pickup), along with free electronic waste collection and Saturday public dumping hours.
Brawley: Partnering with Republic Services, the city hosts scheduled community clean-up events—such as the Brawley Spring Clean-Up at the Municipal Airport—allowing residents to drop off bulky household items free of charge. Curbside bulk options can also be scheduled directly through the hauler.
Calexico: Residential customers serviced by Republic Services are entitled to weekly large item pickup services for items that do not fit standard containers, alongside bi-annual city-wide cleanup events.
Imperial: In partnership with Republic Services, the city holds seasonal Spring Clean-Up drop-off events at the IV Fairgrounds. For regular weekly disposal, Republic Services also offers curbside bulky item pickups at no extra charge (up to one item per week or four per month).
Calipatria, Holtville, and Westmorland: Residents in these municipalities can coordinate bulk pickup services through CR&R or utilize community waste drop-offs.
Property owners in unincorporated county areas who fall victim to illegal dumping on private land can also apply for the County Clean-Up Assistance Program (CCAP) through the Public Health Department to offset disposal fees.
Hazardous materials like household batteries, electronic waste, and leftover paint should never be thrown into regular trash or abandoned on public land. These must be dropped off safely at designated regional recycling hubs.
