Tons of trash cleaned up from Santa Cruz illegal dumping site

Three and a half tons of trash was collected during a massive clean-up effort by Santa Cruz Police and Parks and Recreation in the Sycamore Grove area, officers said.

Officers said the clean-up area was near the northern portion of Pogonip Park and Highway 9. Crews said the area was a makeshift hideout from crime, illegal dumping and drug use, posing a public safety threat and an environmental hazard.

Crews said they discovered human waste, garbage, drug paraphernalia, camping gear and a bike chop shop.

It took two days to clean up the area, that had just been cleaned up two weeks prior, crews said.

Trespassing, drugs, sexual assault, theft and vandalism were all public safety concerns related to this illegal camping and dumping area, police said.