County Commissioners looking into expanding cleanup events

One doesn’t have to go far to find trash littered throughout the desert in El Paso County. ABC-7 crews stopped near Westway Monday, and saw everything from used mattresses to crates and tires.

County Commissioners want to do more to stop littering by targeting illegal dumping. Monday, Commissioners voted to look into expanding cleanups in the outskirts of the county and providing more opportunities for residents to take advantage.

Currently, the county hosts one cleanup event once a year in the east and western parts of the county. It is when residents can bring any and all kinds of trash, from environmental waste to tires.

Commissioner Andrew Hagerty told ABC-7 he knows there is an overwhelming demand for the county’s cleanup effort. “The needs out there, I know in my precinct. I know Commissioner Perez has probably the exact same problem I do. One event just doesn’t cut it,” said Haggerty.

Previously, the county has received grants to cover the cost of the event, but that has dried up this year. The county would now have to foot the roughly $80,000 bill out of contingency funds.

But Commissioners and staff agree that it is an important move to expand community cleanups.

“There was a request for two, and they approved four because there’s such a dire need for these out in El Paso County,” said Pat Adauto, the Public Works Director. She adds the plan to pay for the events will be on the agenda for next week.

The cleanup events will be scheduled later this year. The State requires an 8-week notification before the county can hold the cleanup.