The head of the county’s waste management department says people who dump their junk on the side of the road are creating a costly problem.

"We’re spending well over a half-a-million dollars a year just in the unincorporated areas of Sacramento County cleaning up the debris that people leave behind."

David Pelser says the dumping usually happens at night and in isolated places which will make it hard to catch violators but the new anti-dumping campaign includes incentives for people who tip investigators off.

"And they can receive a $250 cash reward and also we will keep their names anonymous if they want to do so."

The campaign – which will also include undercover sting operations and electronic surveillance - is partly funded by a 3-year grant from the state’s Integrated Waste Management Board.