Anybody who’s meandered through the outskirts of Albuquerque’s west side has seen the results of illegal dumping.  From abandoned refrigerators to old cars, the piles of junk and trash in the desert mesa has been a problem for some time.  A local reporter was even assaulted trying to investigate the dumping on the west side. 

 

The problem is not limited to Albuquerque, however, and a newly formed coalition is targeting illegal dumping throughout the state.  According to an Associated Press report that’s just been released:

 

The groups - known as "Partners for a Clean New Mexico" - will work together on cleanups, educational programs to encourage recycling and proper disposal of trash and to increase enforcement of laws against illegal dumping…

Representatives of federal, state, local, and tribal governmental agencies as well as private and nonprofit groups signed a document Monday outlining their plans and goals. They recounted problems of illegal dumping that ranged from household trash to furniture, appliances, old tires and hazardous materials.

The State Land Office has spent $900,000 cleaning up trash on state trust lands, said Land Commissioner Pat Lyons. The Transportation Department has spent about $5.5 million collecting litter and trash across the state, said Adjutant Secretary Rebecca Montoya.

Among those in the coalition are the BLM, the U.S. Forest Service, the Land Office, the New Mexico Association of Counties, New Mexico Municipal League, the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, the New Mexico Recycling Coalition and the state Environment, Transportation, Tourism, Indian Affairs and Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources departments.