Illegal Dumping on Public Lands on the Rise

10.16.2009 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Eighteen computer monitors and televisions were dumped on public land in Tooele County in the past three weeks, then later discovered. Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Erin Darboven says this kind of illegal dumping is on the rise.

“It’s becoming a bigger problem with analog televisions becoming obsolete and new digital televisions becoming required,” Darboven says. “So historically, we’ve had a problem with computers and TV screens being shot up on public lands, but as technology hastens, so does the garbage.”

Darboven says since 2005, the BLM has spent more than $125,000 in taxpayer money cleaning up electronic waste illegally dumped in the state. And this past year alone, the agency spent at least $14,000 cleaning up more than a dozen separate instances of illegal e-waste dumping.

Darboven says the latest incident will cost about $5,000 to clean up, because the monitors and television screens have toxic cathode ray tubes that require safe handling and disposal. She says the public needs to know that even if the desert seems barren, it’s an important resource for wildlife and humans.

“It’s precious and fragile wildlife habitat for pygmy rabbits, sage grouse, deer, elk. And it also poses a threat for humans, as far as drinking water contamination,” Darboven says.

The BLM is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the illegal dumping. A link to more information about where to recycle electronic waste is on our web site, KCPW.org.