Illegal Dumping

In July of 2020, I noticed a accumulation of refuse (e.g., furniture, tires, yard waste) in a ravine on the northside of Carson City. So, I took some photographs and wrote to a ward supervisor. That email led to conversations with different city officials who determined that the site was located on federal land despite the fact that it lies within city limits. This meant that it fell under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). After some conversations with people at the regional BLM office, I connected with a local non-profit organization in Dayton called Desert Pigs and we cleared many items from the site on December 6, 2020. #networkinghelps

Regional Clean-Up Inventory

December 7, 2024: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, visited a site (Bert’s Cabin) in the Pine Nut Mountains outside Dayton. Some of the items include televisions, laptops, wires, pots and pans, cups, silverware, a bathtub, a mattress, a mini fridge, a box fan, clothing, books, scrap wood and metal, plastic containers, bottles, and cardboard. We filled one pickup truck bed and two trailers. Most items were taken to the Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton.

August 10, 2024: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, visited three sites in Dayton. Some of the items collected include a futon couch (mattress and frame), the back seat of a motor vehicle, scrap wood and metal, five tires, multiple pieces of carpet, a wicker basket, a rug, food containers, clothing, blankets, empty cans and bottles, unopened canned goods, a cooler, plastic container and basket, bicycle tires, a scooter, foldable metal bed frame, and a lawn chair. We filled one pickup truck bed and two trailers. Most items were taken to the Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton. Note: The car tires need to be repurposed.

July 20, 2024: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, visited multiple sites south of Highway 50 and east of Route 95 Alternative, i.e., Stagecoach and Silver Springs area. Some of the items collected include a couch, two mattresses, multiple large blocks of foam, wires, rugs, auto floor mats, a chainsaw, an electric scooter for seniors, a large solar panel, the door to an RV, a cooler, a soft-sided gun case, batteries, cookware, aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, and food containers. We filled two trailers. All items were taken to the Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton.

April 13, 2024: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, visited multiple hotspots on the north side of Highway 50 in Mound House. Some of the items collected include scrap metal, condenser coils, scrap word, insulation, carpet, luggage, food containers, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, wire, an engine block (and other auto parts), a hood of a car, a pickup truck bed cover, the frame of a couch, and piping. We filled one pickup truck bed and two trailers. All items were taken to the Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton.

January 27, 2024: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, visited multiple sites on the north side of I-80 in Fernley. Some of the items collected include scrap wood, insulation, a couch, a recliner, a chaise lounge (from a sectional couch), two mattresses, an office chair, a truck door, vehicle seats, barbed wire, bicycle wheels, food containers, plastic and glass bottles, cans, part of a carpet cleaner, coffee maker, clothing, a flatscreen television, glass, and hypodermic needles. We filled three trailers and three pickup truck beds. All items were taken to the transfer station on Mull Lane.

November 4, 2023: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, cleared a campsite off Cemetery Road in Dayton. Some of the items collected include plastic bags of refuse and loose cans, bottles, food containers, articles of clothing (e.g., sweatshirt, jeans), scrap plywood and metal, cardboard boxes, styrofoam, a foam mat, a bucket, and a small flatscreen television. Two trailers and one pickup truck bed were filled. All items were taken to the Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton.

October 15, 2023: We, i.e., Desert Pigs and the 775 Offroad & Recovery Group, revisited a site off Johnson Lane in the foothills of the Pine Nut Mountains. This time, we filled two trailers with refuse and pulled three abandoned travel trailers to the Johnson Lane OHV staging area. Items relocated include a refrigerator, a wooden staircase, sheet metal, construction nails, broken glass, drug paraphernalia, and tires. We placed the refuse in an industrial dumpster obtained by the Pine Nut Mountains Trail Association. The travel trailers will be cut into pieces with a Sawzall so they can be disposed of properly. The tires will be repurposed.

June 17, 2023: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, cleared a hotspot near Jacaranda Avenue and US Route 95 Alternate in Silver Springs. Items collected include two mattresses, one box spring, one television, multiple tires, pallets, scrap wood, broken furniture, countertops, seat cushion, a cat stand, a small table, plastic and glass bottles, aluminum cans, and food containers. One trailer and pickup truck bed were filled. Most items were taken to the Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton. The television and tires were taken to the Carson City Landfill.

May 6, 2023: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, cleaned up a couple of hotspots off Pilot Road in Fernley. Items collected include three mattresses, box springs, a stove, three mini-fridges, five televisions, several car tires, the hood of a vehicle, pieces of a car’s interior, area carpets, sofa cushions, an end table, cabinetry, scrap wood, the side to metal shelving, pieces of AC units, drug paraphernalia, clothing, food, toiletries, cans, bottles, hangers, cords, cooking utensils, storage containers, and a bucket. Three pickup truck beds and one large trailer were filled. Most items were taken to the Fernley Hauling and Transfer Station. The tires were taken to Dayton.

December 3, 2022: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, cleaned up spots on Deodar Way in Lemmon Valley. Items collected include beer cans, water bottles, food containers, never opened canned goods, plates, lamp components, foam, mirrors, drawers, a television, a washing machine, two reclining chairs from a sectional couch, an air conditioner, a metal cart, bedroom doors, many pieces of wood, tile, multiple bags of yard waste, articles of clothing, heath and beauty aids, children’s toys, a playpen, and a stroller. We also moved a large pile of yard waste off the road. One pickup truck bed and two trailers were filled. Most items were taken to Stead Transfer Station in Reno. The television was taken to Carson City to be recycled.

November 5, 2022: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, cleaned-up spots along Deodar Way in Lemmon Valley. Items collected include cans, bottles, broken glass, a railroad tie, sheet metal, a television, a dresser, Halloween decorations, Styrofoam, and yard waste. One pickup truck bed and one trailer were filled. Some Items were taken to the Carson City Landfill while others to a transfer station in Reno.

October 8, 2022: We, i.e., Desert Pigs and the Wild West Jeep Club, cleaned-up two sites off Johnson Lane in the foothills of the Pine Nut Mountains. Items collected include plastic bottles, broken glass, clay pigeons, scrap wood, a water cooler, stove, grill, bowls, pet food cans, a couch, tables, chairs, a motor, car tires, hydraulic car jacks, tools, a tool box, an exercise bike, vacuum cleaner, sheet metal and aluminum siding, etcetera. Three pickup truck beds and three trailers were filled. We took the refuse to the Carson City Landfill. Other items such as scrap metal will be recycled and tires will be repurposed.

May 22, 2022: We, i.e., Desert Pigs cleared a campsite in Dayton near the Carson River. Numerous bags of miscellaneous refuse including items such as food containers were removed. We also removed a couple of vehicle seats, two tires, a king size mattress, and a satellite dish from the area. One trailer and a pickup truck bed were filled. All items (except the two tires) were moved to the Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton.

April 9, 2022: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, cleared multiple sites in Mound House. Items collected include furniture (e.g., couch, bed), bottles, cans, food containers, vinyl flooring, PVC pipes, carpet, scrap wood, auto parts (e.g., steering column), wires, cardboard boxes, foam blocks, cut up railroad ties, multiple bags of miscellaneous refuse, tires, etcetera. We filled one pickup truck bed and three trailers. All items were moved to the Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton.

February 19, 2022: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, cleared part of a site in Dayton. Items collected include cardboard, scrap wood, aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, food containers, silverware, batteries, health and beauty aid items, clothing, plastic containers, a couch, a mattress, PVC pipe, and a Christmas tree. We filled one pickup truck bed and three trailers. All items were moved to the Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton.

January 22, 2022: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, cleared a site near Highway 50 in Mound House. Items collected include scrap wood, a window, drawers, furniture, a mattress, hoses, pipes, cords, ropes, food packaging, aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, carboard, the back seat of an automobile, holiday decorations (e.g., X-Mas lights), pieces of clothing, a Shop Vac, buckets of concrete, and a utility sink. We filled two pickup truck beds and two trailers. All items were moved to the Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton.

November 13, 2021: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, partially cleaned up a site in the foothills of the Pine Nut Mountains southeast of Carson City (near Minden). Items collected include aluminum cans, plastics bottles, scrap wood, broken glass, hoses, extension cords, wires, compact disks, videotapes, keyboards, a DVD player, batteries, tools, silverware, dog houses, a pallet, notebooks, office supplies, and miscellaneous HBA products. All were adjacent to three abandoned travel trailers. We filled one trailer. All materials were disposed of at the Carson City Landfill.

October 2, 2021: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, cleaned up the public land adjacent to the Waste Management Sutro Transfer Station in Dayton. Items collected include plastic bottles, aluminum cans, plastic bags, cardboard boxes, miscellaneous paperwork, food containers, Styrofoam packaging, bubble wrap, screen mesh, etc. Will filled one trailer.

May 15, 2021: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, visited multiple sites off Deodar Way in Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley (just north of Reno) to pick up bottles, cans, shotgun shells, scrap lumber, nails, roof shingles, fence pickets, a pallet, child car seats, a bathtub, a dryer, a couch, a chair, a television, mattresses, rugs, etc. We filled two pickup truck beds and two trailers. All items were taken to the Stead Transfer Station in Reno.

April 17, 2021: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, visited a couple of sites in the North Valley (Sparks) to pick up furniture, carpets, doors, wood, a vehicle’s passenger seat, clothes, a playpen, pillows, hoses, glass and plastic bottles, aluminum cans, food bags and containers, HBA items, a tent, a mattress, needles, crack pipes, human waste, etc. We filled three pickup truck beds and two trailers. All items were taken to the transfer station in Reno.

March 13, 2021: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, visited two sites in Silver Springs along Highway 50 to pick up food containers, HBA items, bottles, cans, electronics, broken glass, clothing, yard waste, scrap wood, car parts, televisions, and couches. We filled a pickup truck bed and a trailer. All items were taken to the transfer station in Dayton. Lastly, we stacked up many tires along a frontage road to be grabbed during another visit.

February 27, 2021: We, i.e., Desert Pigs, visited multiple locations along some off-highway vehicle trails on the northside of I-80 in Fernley, NV to pick up scrap wood, roof shingles, scrap metal, televisions, beds, a hot tub, yard waste, bottles, cans, broken glass, car parts, food containers, clothing, towels, empty shotgun shells, etc. Multiple trailers, pickup truck beds, and the dump truck were filled. All items were taken to a nearby transfer station to be disposed of properly. Click here for a video.

Goni Road Clean-Up Inventory

January 2, 2021: We, i.e. Desert Pigs, visited three locations along the road to pick up numerous tires, wood, a child’s car seat, bottles, empty shotgun shells, shell casings, miscellaneous refuse, etc. Most items were taken to the landfill in Carson City. Some items were taken home by a volunteer to be recycled.

December 19, 2020: We, i.e. Desert Pigs, visited a couple of different locations along the road to pick up a refrigerator, a stove, tires, wood, cars parts, a workbench, a television, PA cabinet, plastic bottles, glass bottles, empty shotgun shells, empty shell casings, etc. All of the items were taken to the landfill in Carson City.

December 15-17, 2020: Corresponded with the local Bureau of Land Management office about an abandoned Hyundai Elantra (VIN KMHDN45D33U581024) that someone pushed down a hill. They contacted the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Technically, the car rests on private property. Hopefully, it will be removed soon.

December 12, 2020: A few dozen glass beer bottles

December 6, 2020: Volunteers from Desert Pigs and I pulled couches, chairs, plywood, boards, pallets, a mattress, a box spring, a grill, glass and plastic bottles, etc. from the ravine. We also picked up a dresser and nightstand from another nearby location. All of this filled the trailer. I officially joined their organization.

November 22, 2020: One tote, including bottles and shotgun shells AND a shelving unit, sideview mirror, couch cushion, arm rest, two X-Mas tree stands, part of a canister vacuum

October 31, 2020: One tote, including bottles, cans, shotgun shells AND an insulated thermal tote, metal bars, plastic floormat, metal seat frame, top of a desk and drawer

October 2, 2020: One tote, including bottles, cans, shotgun shells AND a glove, unopened condoms, the housing to a headlight, part of a television, inside ceiling to an automobile

September 18, 2020: One tote, including bottles, cans, shotgun shells, women’s watch, golf balls, etc.

August 30, 2020: One tote, including bottles, cans, shotgun shells, cardboard box, a pair of shoes, etc.

August 21, 2020: Three car or truck tires (taken to a local store to be repurposed)

August 11, 2020: One tote, including bottles, cans, shotguns shells, a towel, a glove, unopened condoms, empty cigarettes packs, etc.

August 2, 2020: One tote, including bottles, cans, shotgun shells, etc.

Photograph

Trailer of items collected in the foothills of the Pine Nut Mountains, NV, 2022