Los Angeles and Orange counties were among 36 cities and counties to receive grants Tuesday from the state Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to safely manage waste and used tires.
Los Angeles County will receive $600,000, while Orange County will receive $382,581.
The grant money is typically used to offset the cost of inspections of tire storage facilities and enforcement activities to prevent illegal dumping, according to CalRecycle. Funds can also be used for surveillance equipment and employee training.
“These grants ensure cities and counties have the means to enforce state laws that keep local residents and their environment safe,” CalRecycle Director Scott Smithline said.
“Both illegal dumping and improper storage of waste and used tires create a host of problems for people and businesses, from visual blight to significant health hazards.”
According to CalRecycle, illegally stockpiled or dumped waste tires provide breeding habitats for disease-carrying mosquitoes, and could also result in long-burning fires that release toxins into the air, water and soil.
The grant awards were based on the prevalence of illegal waste tire dump sites identified within jurisdictional boundaries; and the number of inspections completed, enforcement actions and surveillance activities conducted in previous grant cycles.
—Staff and wire reports