Visalia, Coarsegold agency receive grants to clean up illegal dumping

The city of Visalia and a Coarsegold agency have been awarded grants to help clean up and prevent illegal dumping.

This year, CalRecycle handed out grants totaling over $200,000. Two of the four recipients of the Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant Program were located in the Valley.

Visalia will receive an award of $17,309 to reimburse the city for its cleanup of five homeless encampments along the St. John’s River last year. The Coarsegold Resource Conservation District will receive $44,175 to clean up six illegal dumpsites outside the gates of Yosemite National Park.

According to CalRecycle spokeswoman Heather Jones, the grants are given to pay for the removal, disposal and prevention of illegal dumpsites. CalRecycle Director Scott Smithline said that it’s hard for landowners to stop illegal dumping once it’s started.

“The grants help property owners put their land back to beneficial use,” he said.

This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 9:33 PM with the headline "Visalia, Coarsegold agency receive grants to clean up illegal dumping."