EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — As illegal dumping continues in outlying areas of El Paso County, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says it is working to address the issue.
Sheriff Oscar Ugarte says his office regularly receives calls from residents who report vehicles driving into desert areas to unload trash.
“We do get a lot of community members calling. There’s a truck entering the desert but by the time the unit gets there, that individual’s gone,” Ugarte said.
He says the issue is more common in unincorporated areas of the County, including Montana Vista and desert stretches near Horizon.
To address the issue, the Sheriff’s Office has launched plainclothes operations, placing deputies in unmarked vehicles in known dumping areas, in an effort to catch offenders in the act. Ugarte said the operations have led to arrests but staffing limitations make it difficult to keep deputies stationed in desert areas for extended periods.
While deputies work on enforcement, community cleanup organizations say they continue to find trash in these desert areas.
Rick Flores, executive director of Desert Rescue 915, says these sites contain everything from household items to construction materials.
“You name it, it’s out there — furniture, mattresses, bathtubs, toilets, construction material. It’s all out there. Tires is one of our biggest issues. Thousands of tires out there,” Flores said.
Desert Rescue 915 hosts cleanup events in both El Paso County and nearby parts of New Mexico, saying dumping is a regional problem.
“I think we all bear responsibility, and we need to do a better job of cleaning up our city and keeping it clean,” Flores added.
The group is partnering with Mango Cannabis for a cleanup effort on Saturday, Oct. 25, in Santa Teresa, in an area they say has also been affected by illegal dumping.
Maverick, head of operations for Mango Cannabis, says he has seen trash dumped frequently in the desert.
“I go off-roading there pretty much every weekend and it’s really bad,” he said. “We thought this was a good way we could give back to the community.”
Illegal dumping can lead to fines or jail time depending on the amount of debris involved.
Ugarte is encouraging residents to use designated city dump sites to dispose of trash.
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