Volunteers, City and County workers cleanup Lapis Road area

Lapis Road in Marina that has become known as an illegal dumping area is looking a lot cleaner this weekend.

City and County crews alongside city leaders and volunteers took to the streets in hopes of making the area better for the community and environment. “Dumping on Lapis Road has significantly increased in the last two to three years, it had become known on the internet as a place where you could camp for free alongside of the county road and when people camp and stay for a long time they generate all sorts of waste streams that they don’t have the appropriate methods of taking care of the waste streams,” says Public Works Maintenance Manager Shawn Atkins.

Atkins says it’s the poster child for illegal dumping, but that’s something many throughout the county want to change.

On Friday Public Works hauled out nearly 65 yards worth of trash and appliances. Atkins says a lot of the materials come from people being too lazy to get rid of it properly, “there’s a dump right here. Often times what they’re dumping can be recycled for free and they just don’t take the time and effort it takes to appropriately deal with the waste.”

Mayor Bruce Delgado organized a clean up day on Sunday. More than a dozen community members and city leaders came out to help with cleanup efforts. “Now we want to do it regularly, show presence and discourage people from continuing the past,” says Mayor Delgado.

On Sunday they collected 360 pounds of trash and 15 pounds of recyclables.