San Mateo County Highways See Increase in Illegal Dumping

The California Highway Patrol is urging residents to avoid littering along San Mateo County highways, as authorities have seen an increase in illegal dumping in the past few months.

Throughout San Mateo County highways, motorists may have noticed numerous piles of wood chips, gardening material and sometimes building material along the freeway, and near on-ramps and off-ramps, CHP officials said.

These piles were dumped there illegally by unknown parties and not by Caltrans.

Not only are these piles a danger to motorists by presenting a hazard to traffic, but also a danger to the environment and roadside vegetation, according to CHP officials.

The piles can contain bugs that can destroy roadside vegetation, possible hazardous materials and can also be a fire danger with the recent hot temperatures.

In addition, it can cost the state of California $300 to $700 in dumping fees alone for each of those piles.

The CHP is soliciting the public’s help in reporting anyone seen dumping any kind of material alongside California highways. Residents are asked to call 911 and provide the following information to the CHP dispatcher.

- Location

- Description of vehicle (including license plate if visible from a safe location).

- Description of the parties involved (ethnicity, type and color of clothing, etc.).

- Direction of travel (if the vehicle leaves the area).

- And what they observed.

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