LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Trash dumping is a continuous problem in the Las Vegas Valley.
FOX5 is learning only one Bureau of Land Management employee is responsible for maintaining more than 26,000 acres of the agency’s land.
BLM Range Technician Nathaniel Holmes has his hands full, literally. He takes care of 26,807 acres of “urban interfacing” land in the valley.
This land falls within the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act Boundary.
Depending on how trashed an area is, Holmes says cleanup can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two days.
He’ll either clean it himself or coordinate volunteer groups, but he says after COVID, he’s seen less interest from the community.
“For a couple years, it wasn’t possible to do any kind of public cleanups. Now that things are kind of back to normal, it seems like people maybe just don’t know that that’s an option,” Holmes says.
He says most of the trash he picks up is from illegitimate businesses who are evading the landfill fee by dumping in the desert.
Although the acreage Holmes is responsible for is spreading across the valley, he spends a lot of time in southwest Las Vegas cleaning the BLM-owned lots off Blue Diamond.
“Those are some of the most affected parcels in the city, just because those are so small and kind of tucked up in neighborhoods,” Holmes says. “For people to access without easily being seen.”
Michael Phillips has lived behind one of the BLM-owned lots off Blue Diamond for more than a decade, and says he’s seen his fair share of illegally dumped trash.
“People will come and they’ll dump their mattresses, their couches, they’ll throw dressers,” Phillips says. “I can’t stand looking at it.”
Phillips wasn’t aware of Holmes’ role, and says he’s glad someone is taking the problem seriously.
Community members can reach out to Holmes directly to report trash on BLM-owned property by emailing [email protected].
Anyone who is interested in volunteering to help Holmes can contact BLM’s Southern Nevada District Office at 702-515-5000. Holmes says BLM will help coordinate the cleanup, and provide the necessary resources.
“This land is something that we all share, and is collectively owned by all of us,” Holmes says. “If we don’t take care of it, it’s not gonna be here.”
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