Editorial: Taking dumping seriously

Friday, June 22, 2001 | 9:24 a.m.

It was an encouraging sign that the Nevada Legislature passed new laws that will toughen the penalties on illegal dumpers. Fines for first-time convictions will more than double, increasing to as much as $500. In addition, the maximum fine has been raised from $2,000 to $5,000 for illegal dumping. It also is important to note that a second violation could result in 14 days in jail; businesses could lose their business licenses if they're convicted of illegal dumping.

Sadly, individuals and businesses have found that it's easy to simply dump their garbage on vacant lots, including land that is owned by the federal government. Old washing machines, bed mattresses and other household items are dumped by individuals, but enforcement officers note that most of the problem is from construction and landscaping businesses. Violators rarely get caught, and scofflaws believe it's worth the risk to dump their garbage illegally here in the valley instead of hauling it to the Apex landfill, 15 miles north of Las Vegas, where they have to pay to have it deposited.

Still, without enforcement help, the new laws might not have that much impact if there aren't enough compliance officers to make sure the law is being obeyed. As the Sun's Jeffrey Libby reported Tuesday, there will be no additional funds from the state to enforce the new laws. The cities, county and federal government, however, should make a concerted effort to hire more people to crack down on illegal dumping.

Aside from tougher enforcement on illegal dumping, it also is promising that federal agencies -- including the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service -- are collaborating with a private foundation, Outside Las Vegas, to change the attitude that Las Vegans have for their environment. This group will start a television ad campaign that will encourage residents to be good stewards of the Earth, modeling it after the "Keep America Beautiful" commercials that first aired during the 1970s.

What is discouraging is that so many people who live in our valley treat it as if it were a trash can. Every day you see the lack of respect for the environment and their fellow Las Vegans as garbage is strewn about parking lots, streets, highways and even neighborhoods. Until the mindset of valley residents changes, stopping illegal dumping will be a tough nut to crack -- no matter how much we fine people for breaking the law.