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Arizona Border Trash

Learn about the Border Trash Issue in Arizona caused by illegal crossers and the ongoing cleanups organized by various agencies and volunteer groups to address the environmental impact. Discover how organizations receive funding to remove tons of trash, abandoned vehicles, and bicycles from critical border regions in Arizona.

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Arizona Border Trash

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  1. Arizona Border Trash Henry R. Darwin, Director Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

  2. The Border Trash Issue Discards give insight into border crossers Miriam JordanWall Street JournalJan. 21, 2008 “Tighter enforcement on well-worn migrant routes from Mexico into Texas and California in the '90s made Arizona the main gateway for illegal immigrants. Now, new high-tech surveillance towers and beefed-up patrols along the Arizona border are forcing migrants to take even more circuitous routes.” “The longer the journey, the more baggage immigrants carry - and discard - along the way. During the three- to four-day journey, migrants toss off food containers, blankets and other items to lighten their load. They drop other belongings when trying to elude the border patrol.”

  3. The Border Trash Issue Border 101 Brady McCombs Arizona Daily Star Oct. 24, 2010 “The number of apprehensions by Border Patrol agents on the U.S.-Mexico border plummeted to 447,500 in fiscal year 2010, down from 1.1 million in fiscal year 2004.” “The Border Patrol's 262-mile-long Tucson Sector has 71 miles of fencing, but it remains the busiest people- and drug-smuggling route on the border, accounting for nearly half of all arrests and marijuana seizures.” The Tucson Sector encompasses the international border to the south, up to Casa Grande to the north, Ajo to the west and the New Mexico state line to the east.

  4. Geographic Area Arizona Border Region

  5. Border Trash Cleanups • Organizations and Volunteer Groups • Several federal, state, local agencies and volunteer groups regularly organize and conduct cleanups • Arizona Department of Environmental Quality • Arizona Game & Fish Department • Cochise County • Hunters Who Care • Malpai Borderlands Group • Southern Arizona Environmental Management Society • U.S. Bureau of Land Management • U.S. Forest Service • Tohono O’odham Nation • Solid Waste Management Dept. • Initial project determined each migrant leaves behind 6-8 lbs. of trash throughout his/her journey • Cleanups funded through gaming proceeds and grants from BLM and EPA; conducted by Solid Waste Dept. employees

  6. Border Trash Cleanups • BLM’s Southern Arizona Project • Provides Grant Funding for Cleanups • Federal fiscal year 2010 totals trash removed • 255 tons (510,000 pounds) trash • 13.5 tons (approximately 787) tires • 77 abandoned vehicles • 364 abandoned bicycles • Example of Agencies Receiving Funds • Arizona Game & Fish • Cochise County • Tohono O’odham Nation

  7. Border Trash Cleanups • ADEQ Projects • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Support • $200,000 from 2006 to 2010 through the U.S.-Mexico Border 2012 Environmental Program • Pilot Cleanups, Develop Stakeholder Base, Initiate Web-Based Coordination Tool • U.S. Bureau of Land Management • $150,000 from 2009 to 2012 to fully develop Web site • Developed with extensive input from stakeholder group, Borderlands Management Task Force • Web site includes forms for documenting cleanups, announcing dates of cleanups and organizing groups, and loaning out of equipment and supplies

  8. Tubac by Santa Cruz River Approximately 1,000 lbs. of trash collected Spring 2007

  9. Brown Canyon, Cochise County

  10. Brown Canyon, Cochise County Approximately 2,000 lbs. of trash collected Spring 2009

  11. Madera Canyon, Pima County

  12. Madera Canyon, Pima County Approximately 3,000 lbs. of trash collected Spring 2009

  13. Madera Canyon, Pima County Spring 2009 Collected approx. 3,000 lbs.

  14. Arivaca, Santa Cruz County Example of staging area where volunteers check-in, receive safety briefing, water and supplies prior to cleanup. Volunteers also sign-out at end of cleanup.

  15. Arivaca, Santa Cruz County Collected approximately 3,800 lbs. Spring 2009

  16. Arivaca Area Area includes both Santa Cruz County and Pima County Fall 2008: Collected approximately 19,5000 lbs. Spring 2010: Collected approximately 8,000 lbs. Arizona Game & Fish Cleanup Organized with Hunters Who Care and Other Volunteers

  17. Future Cleanups • Upcoming border trash cleanups • January 28, Santa Cruz River • Friends of the Santa Cruz River, Anza Trail Coalition, Rio Rico Properties, Santa Cruz County, and ADEQ • Spring 2012, Tucson Sector Area TBD • Hunters Who Care and Arizona Game and Fish Department lead organizations

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