San Diego city crews this week cleaned up more than four tons of trash, including large items, from Wightman Street Park north of Chollas Creek, it was announced Friday.
The trash, caused by homeless encampments and illegal dumping, had been the subject of more than 60 Get It Done encampment reports about the Auburn Creek corridor, connected to the stormwater channel behind the park.
“Illegal dumping is harmful to our environment and takes up valuable city time and resources that could be used on other services for our residents,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “I thank our city crews for their hard work cleaning up the park, and I ask all San Diegans to do their part by disposing of waste properly and reporting illegal dumping when they see it happening.”
Several crews from the city’s Environmental Services and Stormwater departments tackled the project on Tuesday, joined by teams from the nonprofits Urban Corps of San Diego County and Alpha Project. Items removed include broken appliances, mattresses, boxes and clothing.
]For any of the homeless San Diegans residing near the cleanup, 24-hour notice was given to allow them to pack up. The San Diego Police Department’s Neighborhood Policing Division visited those in the encampments.
“They offered available services and shelter, but the offers were declined,” a city statement read.
January’s flooding in heavily vegetated storm channels have made city crews hyper aware of stormwater infrastructure being blocked or otherwise impeded.
“We are working in close collaboration with the stormwater department to ensure that culverts and storm runoff areas are clear and fully prepared for the upcoming storm season,” said Franklin Coopersmith, deputy director for environmental services.
He added that “this work will continue on a regular basis to maintain these critical areas.”
San Diego offers options to properly dispose of large, unwanted items, including a Mattress Recycling Program and periodic community cleanup events. Residents can visit WasteFreeSD.org to find recycling and donation options, a city statement read.
The efforts this week also prompted the city to remind residents it is not only illegal to dump trash and large items improperly, it is also detrimental to the environment. Violators can face fines of $1,000 for disposing trash and other materials into the stormwater system.
To report illegal dumping and trash near creeks or stormwater infrastructure, San Diegans can use the Get It Done app, call 619-235-1000 or email swppp@sandiego.gov.
City News Service contributed to this report