Saratoga News

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Sheriff's deputies will be cracking down on people taking trash

Offenders will be cited, repeat offenders jailed

By Jason Sweeney

The Santa Clara Sheriff's Department is cracking down on people who take bottles and cans from recycling bins left at the curb.

Capt. John Hirokawa said the sheriff's office was contacted by the city of Saratoga and told to enforce sections of the municipal code concerning the collection of recyclables.

"We're still getting complaints," Hirokawa said. "Permits are required to collect recyclables. People can be arrested for these violations.

"These are misdemeanors. That means if a deputy witnesses the crime, he can make the arrest. If no deputy is present, then we need a witness to make an arrest."

Saratoga residents have witnessed scavengers going through their recycling bins for at least a year now. The scavengers take the bottles, cans and high-value plastic before trucks from Green Valley Disposal arrive in the morning. The scavengers have been seen on foot and in vehicles.

In June, deputies from the sheriff's office contacted a few of the scavengers and identified them as people from the area who take recyclables from bins in order to sup plement their incomes. At least three of the scavengers were identified and photographed, and background checks were run. Deputies determined the scavengers were not working in concert and most likely were not casing homes for burglaries.

Saratoga resident Melodie Pack said last week recyclables were still being scavenged from her recycling bins. "We heard if anything was left on the street it was public property, so we moved the bins up onto the lawn. We even put signs over the bins saying 'Property of Green Valley Disposal.' But they still helped themselves to the bottles and cans."

"The primary concerns are privacy, potential identity theft and personal safety," Bill Pack said.

"We've gotten many phone calls and emails about it," City Manager Dave Anderson said. "We knew there was a public policy issue and citizens were concerned that it was a public safety and personal security issue."

Anderson said Green Valley Disposal did not want to press charges against people taking bottles and cans from recycling bins. The city attorney was then asked to research existing city ordinances and determine if a new ordinance was needed. "The city attorney's office researched and found code that could be enforced. Therefore, there is no need to write a new ordinance. The sheriff's office was then contacted and told to enforce the code.

"Saratoga residents don't like solicitors coming to their doors or people going through their recyclables," Anderson said. "It's a quality of life issue that we're trying to respond to."

Hirokawa said residents should call the sheriff's office if they see recycle bandits going through their bins. "We need good witnesses with good descriptions of either the vehicle, the license plate or the person," he said. "Usually, first-time offenders get a fine or community service. Repeat offenders get jail time."

The Packs said arresting people for taking recyclables sounded a little harsh. "It's difficult for me to judge whether taking them into custody is too strong an action, but I would certainly be supportive of citing them," Bill Pack said. However, Pack said because some of the recycle bandits might be unregistered immigrants, a citation alone might not be effective.