http://youtu.be/E8q_CEXZfLs
Illegal Dumping has been a problem for New Mexico for years, but Dona Ana County Codes Enforcement is trying to change that. They Created a Children’s book as a fun way to teach them the dangers of illegal dumping.
Lt. Mary Lou Ward is the Supervisor for Animal Control and Codes Enforcement. She says that a good way to help prevent illegal dumping is to educate children on the dangers.
“We got involved with an illegal dumping partnership, who concentrates on illegal dumping,” Ward said. “And we go into the school for a lot of our programs called our aces program, which is Animal Control and Code enforcement environmental survey. And as we go into the school we cover animal control, illegal dumping codes things. We wanted something we could hand out to kids in the schools, something we could relay, kind of have them relate on illegal dumping.”
She said that illegal dumping is a big problem in Dona Ana County.
“It’s pretty big, it’s big now, we’ve got illegal dump sites all over, actually all over the state,” Ward said. “We have our no throw app, which the information is in the book on the no throw app. It’s an application where you can go in record illegal dump sites, and since we’ve had that app on board we’ve had 150 illegal dump sites reported to us.”
She says that illegal dumpsites can be dangerous, contain hazardous waste and spread disease. Something children are usually not aware of.
“You know, when I was little I can remember going hunting with my dad, and walking to dump areas and seeing things in the trash,” Ward said. “And thinking it was kind of cool to go through it, but actually it was not. It was a hazard, so hopefully, we can bring that to their attention.”
Each child will get a book to take home when they teach the program. Ward says she hopes children will relay the lessons they learned to their parents in addition to learning something themselves.
“I think it’s very important because if you get them started now then they can develop the right habits of putting trash where it belongs,” Ward said. “Right now it’s just concentrated on illegal dumping. We hope, to next year, add one on recycling. It kind of corresponds with the illegal dumping part of it, so that’s kind of where we hope to go.”
In addition to creating more books with the Carlos the Coyote character, Ward said they have even more plans to keep children engaged.
“We have the book,” Ward said. “We also have our pledge stickers that are being issue with each book. There is a pledge in the back; once you take the pledge then you actually get a sticker in the book. We’re trying to create little bandannas that go with the book for the kids. And the actual charter, Carlos the character, as a mascot will come to play pretty soon. And he will accompany an officer with the book into the schools.”
She said that 3rd and 4th grade teachers who were consulted when making the book thought it would be a great tool for the kid
