Despite more than a decade of cleanup efforts, illegal dumping continues in Farmington’s Chokecherry Canyon, where volunteers return each year to clean up the recreation area.
On Aug. 29, volunteers will spend up to eight hours removing trash from the canyon, just one week before thousands of visitors arrive for Four Corners 4×4 Week.
Coordinated with the Bureau of Land Management, the event targets the high-desert washes, which frequently fall victim to illegal dumping. Debris scattered across the canyon ranges from household trash and beer bottles to heavy appliances and construction waste.
Over the years, volunteers have hauled away burned-out vehicles, stolen cars and dangerous items like discarded needles and broken glass.
“I hate cleaning up trash. It is not my favorite thing to do. But once you’ve cleaned up a pile and you see where it started and you see how you left nature again, you just feel really good about yourself,” Allen Elmore, event coordinator, who took over leadership of the cleanup 10 years ago as a member of the Cliffhangers Four-Wheel Drive Club, said.
The persistent trash problem in the canyon comes from a localized culture of dumping on public land to avoid the cost or hassle of visiting a legal transfer station, Ellmore said, adding that partying in Chokecherry Canyon also adds to the trash, with people often leaving behind bottles and cans.
Another issue is the misconceptions about yard waste. Many residents dump branches and clippings because they believe the items will quickly decay, but the arid climate preserves organic material for generations.
“Sticks take 200 years to biodegrade,” Elmore said. “A pile of grass clippings is going to sit there for 50 years.”
He hopes a pristine desert will discourage future dumpers.
“If you see a place that’s trashed, you don’t feel bad trashing it,” Elmore said. “But if you see a place that’s beautiful, it’s a little bit harder to do.”
The clean up is physically demanding, requiring volunteers to push through challenging conditions.
“It’s dirty and sometimes it’s really gross,” Elmore said, adding that crews have worked through storms, wind, dirt and late-August heat. “But they still show up and they do it because they care. It really makes me proud to be part of this community.”
Residents have options for getting rid of large items and other waste without dumping them on public land, Elmore said.
Farmington hosts free dumpster weekends for city residents to dispose of large household items and yard waste. Residents can also dispose of up to 2 cubic yards of solid waste each month at the San Juan County Landfill at no additional cost.
Restrictions apply to both programs. For more information visit, www.farmingtonnm.gov/271/Farmington-Clean-Beautiful.
To make the demanding work more appealing, Elmore’s real estate team, AE Properties, sponsors grilled lunches, while other sponsors provide morning coffee, doughnuts and raffle prizes.
For every load of trash brought in, volunteers earn raffle tickets for a drawing.
Prizes include televisions, tools, gift cards and car parts, with one grand prize featuring a free night’s stay at Kokopelli’s Cave, a unique bed-and-breakfast carved into a cliffside. Children who help are also guaranteed to receive a prize.
Seeing people work together without pay to clean the canyon is Elmore’s favorite part of the event, he said.
“I love that kids come out here and volunteer,” Elmore said. “I’m hoping we change a culture.”
Elmore urged participants to stay hydrated and use the provided sunscreen. He also cautioned volunteers to be very careful when sorting through waste. Sturdy work gloves and dust masks are highly recommended.
Additionally, organizers ask off-road drivers in the area to take it easy on the roads during the event, as volunteers will be walking throughout the washes.
The cleanup is open to the public, and no advance registration is required. For more information call (505) 686-3831.
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