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Community donates time, labor, resources to care for their Arizona, BLM-administered public lands

Dec 12, 2024

A front end loader fills a dumpster with a couch and other trash.

TVs, couches, scrap metal, tires and hazardous materials all share a common thread. In "Jeopardy!" these items could easily fit the category: “items no one wants on their favorite picnic, camping, or shooting site.”

Illegal dumping on public lands is a growing problem that can burden the taxpayer with the cost of the cleanup which commonly falls to Federal land managers and staff. Trash can also negatively impact natural and cultural resources such as aquifers and vegetation, and even the next group of visitors to a site.

That’s why the Bureau of Land Management is taking a moment to honor the 40 volunteers from Littlefield, Arizona, who on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, partnered with the agency to collect trash around the community and on their public lands. In just four hours of dedicated effort, the group, led by local residents Cathy Wright and Josh Wilson in conjunction with the local BLM Arizona Strip Field Office, removed enough debris to fill the six roll-off dumpsters delivered to the site by the BLM.

Across the county and in many areas like this, BLM-administered public lands connect to a patchwork of various landownership parcels including local, State, and Federal entities. So, clean-up efforts often require coordinated efforts with partner agencies, governments, and non-profit organizations.

Volunteers fill a large roll-off dumpster with a growing pile of trash. — Volunteers from Littlefield fill a dumpster with trash from nearby public lands.

The BLM and partner organizations also work to encourage responsible recreation to keep public lands clean and healthy. In Littlefield, community members announced the event community wide, brought donations of drinks and refreshments and even hosted a bounce house for the kids to support families who spent the afternoon collecting trash.

“Many participants donated their time on their day off work to improve their community by removing unsightly items like furniture, appliances, yard waste, household garbage, and other trash off the landscape and into a dumpster,” said Jon Jasper, BLM Arizona Strip Field Office outdoor recreation planner who worked side by side with community members to care for their public lands. “It was inspiring to see community members come together like this.”

Responsibly disposing of personal property and garbage means taking it to a landfill. Most counties offer transfer station facilities that accept almost all solid waste, apart from hazardous materials and liquids. Although the recycling process at each landfill is different, many items including wood, scrap metal, appliances, household cardboard, and tires can be recycled. Call the closest transfer station near you for more information on hours of operation and what items are accepted.

To report dumping and resource damage on BLM-managed lands nationwide, call 800-637-9152.