Gonzales agreed, to a point: “It’s a shame, but philosophically speaking some don’t want to” go out and make a living in the fields or the construction industry. “Like the homeless, some don’t want to conform,” noted Gonzales.Aguirre spoke of seeing “an old man pushing a cart with a dog” who finds it a necessity to forge for income.“In some cases I’m sure it is,” said Gonzales.“On the other side, they really do a service by taking recyclables out of a dumpster,” noted Vice Mayor Ralph Fernandez. The city provides three waste containers, including the blue barrels used for recycling, said Bobkiewicz.“Mine was one-third of that,” those who remove recyclables from the green barrel for recycling, noted Fernandez, although “on the other side” there could be liability if scavengers were injured by materials in the trash container.There are some “young and able bodied” that have been observed rummaging through trash containers, said Councilman Ray Luna, but “there’s a health and safety issue here.”The Council voted to adopt the ordinance.
City Council adopts ordinance banning dumpster diving
February 06, 2008
Santa Paula City Council
Those who might be tempted to rummage, explore, tamper with, move, remove, tip, deface, destroy, scavenge or otherwise search a waste container can forget it after the City Council approved an ordinance regulating the unlawful entry into waste containers placed in the city right of way at the January 22 meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThose who might be tempted to rummage, explore, tamper with, move, remove, tip, deface, destroy, scavenge or otherwise search a waste container can forget it after the City Council approved an ordinance regulating the unlawful entry into waste containers placed in the city right of way at the January 22 meeting.During the discussion of a proposed ordinance governing recyclers and junk dealers prompted by the number of rising thefts targeting recyclable materials, the second part of the agenda item governing waste containers was also addressed.“Let me just state that we, the City of Santa Paula, are also the victims of theft of goods,” said Mayor Bob Gonzales. “It’s not uncommon to see trash cans turned over” as the result of scavengers looking for cans and bottles that can be recycled for payment. “It’s a mess,” and the city is not receiving its full share of state recycling credits due to the thefts, Gonzales noted.Dumpster diving has become a major problem, with the SPPD receiving “repeated complaints regarding recyclables stolen from waste containers,” according to the report by Police Chief Steve MacKinnon. The removal of trash also poses a health risk if waste is “being strewn about,” if containers are left open to animals and the weather, and containers and lids are left in the roadway.Identity thieves who rummage through trash for copies of checks, credit or bank statements or other records to obtain personal identification information are also a concern. “The proposed ordinance should discourage people from removing waste from trash containers,” noted MacKinnon’s report.“This will provide another tool in our toolbox to deal,” City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz said of the proposed ordinance.“I agree that we probably need something in place because of health and other issues,” but Councilman Dr. Gabino Aguirre said that “It’s painful to see people without another means to live to go through trash cans, go into an alley to find cans and bottles to make a living. It pains me.”
