‘An unfixed problem’: Family farmer says ending illegal dumping requires more than cleanup

A longtime family farmer, Tom Pavić is faced with cleaning yet another illegal dump on his farm east of Bakersfield. There, instead of transporting trash and junk to Bena’s landfill, someone decided to use Pavić’s land as his personal dump.

He said it was a continuing problem not only for him, but also for producers in valleys and rural areas throughout the county.

“All the appliances in your home, I saw it,” he said. “I receive a few cars a year on the torch.”

Earlier this week, 66-year-old Pavich toured California reporters and photographers on a country road leading to the Pavich Family Farm, an organic viticulture business east of Bakersfield, which specializes in raisin production.

Many of those country roads were lined with piles of garbage, worn-out household items, and sometimes even industrial waste.

Pavić said that all kinds of domesticated animals (living and dead), including sealed bags containing “gross” animal pieces left over from the butcher’s process, are those. He said he saw him abandoned on a country road or farm.

The amount and type of garbage is amazing. One place contained a dead cow that appeared to have been there for months. Tires, broken furniture, electronics, used motor oil, used clothing, etc.

Adjacent to his vineyard, he and his crew filled some wooden trash cans with a trailer road of trash left on his farm. Another trash can appeared overnight-before he could bring it to the trash can-at his dime.

“If this were Seven Oaks and someone’s front yard, something would happen,” he said. “Well, this is my vestibule. No one seems to care here, but I do.”

County officials say they care and they are taking action to address the issue.

“You ran into a topic that seems to be a sign of what defines our world today,” Kern County Public Works Director Craig Pope told Californians by email.

“He’s not the only problem with Tom Pavić. We see it everywhere. It’s 10 times easier than it was five years ago,” said the Pope.

“I don’t know what has changed to leave it as it is, but it requires our resources and attention.”

The Pope is right. It is not unique to the Pavic Family Farm or the eastern part of Bakersfield.

“We are near the McFarland-Delano Transfer Station,” said McFarland almond grower Don Davis on Friday. “Every weekend we load a few trucks on a small farm.”

“Previously, someone left the couch or TV once or twice a month,” he said.

But now the scale of the problem is much larger.

“Unfortunately, illegal dumping is a persistent problem for local farmers and ranchers, large and small,” said Romeo Agbalog, Executive Secretary of the Kern County Agricultural Department.

“Illegal dumping violates private property rights through illegal dumping, raises risk and safety concerns for farm employees, increases the cost of doing business and brings devastation to our community.” He said in an email.

“As local jurisdictions reduce enforcement, farmers have extra burdens and cleanup costs,” Agbalog said.

He said the Department of Agriculture is keen to work with all stakeholders to eliminate illegal dumping and hold criminals accountable.

Ryan Allsop, chief administrative officer of Kern County, said the problem extends to all parts of the county.

“In fact, we are stepping up our efforts to deal with it,” said Arsop.

In addition, Kern County’s supervisory board has approved a new $ 1,000 fine for illegal dumping and a $ 250 fine for all uncovered luggage within the past year, Alsop said. These new fines will add to other civil and fines already on the books.

Meanwhile, public works have raised land use fees for county residents to fund the cleanup of bulky waste and debris.

However, the Pope said the money could not be used to purify private property.

Nevertheless, the increased funding allows the county to expand from a single cleaning worker to five illegal dumping workers employed throughout the county.

“We are also working with a newly funded law enforcement team to remove homeless camps,” said the Pope. “Code officers work with residents, and when they relocate, illegal dumping crew members are there to clean up the camp. These crew members also work with community cleaning events. . “

County officials also agree with Pavić that new efforts are needed to educate the public. As a result, they are increasing their presence in school to “change the culture of our community,” the Pope said.

“First, we have to let you know that the landfill is free for residential waste,” he said. “Our residents do not cost anything to bring it from their home to our landfill.

“There are seven landfills throughout the county. It’s rare to have more than one in the county,” said the Pope.

So why doesn’t the garbage dump use a place like Bena’s landfill?

“Business hours may be part of that,” he said. “And we will revisit the closing at 4 pm.

“Our problem is, especially at this time, after the last cargo of the day was dumped. There were hours of work that the operator had to complete before the end of the day, and we started working in the dark. increase. “”

The Pope said we had no choice. According to him, it is imperative to continue cleaning after homelessness and illegal dampers.

“We must find the money and resources to educate and continue to purify.”

For the farmer Tom Pavić, it is a basic choice between having the courage to confront and solve these problems and sitting down and seeing our society unleashed.

“It’s part of our culture now,” he said. “And we need to change that.”

Reporter Stephen Mayer can be reached at 661-395-7353. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @semayerTBC.

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