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Interview Summary: State Parks

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department employs a staff of 359 full time and 365 seasonal employees. A team leader manages several rangers in the area, who are usually responsible for one park.

This information was gathered from several interviews with different personnel from Oregon State Parks.

Dumpsites
  • Vary seasonally: park-generated, recreational and roadside litter in summer, household waste in fall/winter, carcasses during hunting season
  • Household garbage less likely in summer (more people watching)
  • Non-native plants in yard debris a problem
Cleanup
  • Cleanup is an average of 4.4 hours a week per ranger
  • Equipment is owned: buckets, "litter-getters," pickup trucks, Tommy Lift (for heavy items)
  • $1000-$5000/year spent on cleanup
  • Some contracting: vaulted toilets can attract illegal dumping. It costs $300-$1,600 per toilet to remove trash.
Enforcement
  • Citations only issued if caught in the act ($109)
  • Can issue a warning from information found in illegally disposed garbage (i.e. a letter)
Prevention
  • Move trashcans farther from main road
  • Lock dumpsters
  • Put in gates ($1000-$1500 apiece)
  • Park hosts
  • Education: Junior Rangers Program

    Interviewees also commented on the socio-economic causes of dumping. People perceive that it is too expensive to make a trip to the dump. Dumping is also generational: if parents do it, then it is likely that their children will do it. Various people recommended a low-income voucher system for the dump, as well as amnesty days and sliding fees.

    These opinions do not represent the entire illegal dumping project or Oregon State Parks. Information gathered is for personal use.

More Interviews: Overall & Forest Service & Army Corps