Oakland to host trash ‘parties’ to combat illegal dumping

(KRON) — Don’t trash The Town. That’s the message Oakland city officials are sending to people who illegally dump.

“I want all of us to build an Oakland where our streets reflect the dignity, pride, and resilience of this community,” Mayor Barbara Lee said. “We know too many Oaklanders are seeing trash on their streets and illegal dumping in their neighborhoods. And we are working hard to address this issue. Let’s create a cleaner, safer, greener Oakland together.”

The Oakland Public Works (OPW) department is expanding weekend staffing for its illegal dumping cleanup crews, officials announced Friday. The change will provide more coverage across more neighborhoods, as well as faster response times when residents report illegal dumping.

Boosted staffing is part of a broader set of city operations being developed to prevent, reduce, and combat illegal dumping and blight.

Phase two of the mayor’s “Keep the Town Clean Initiative” is launching this fall and will bring trash removal “block parties” to each of Oakland’s seven districts, city officials said.

Oakland Public Works’ illegal dumping unit responded to more than 25,700 service requests and removed over 9,000 tons — 18 million pounds — of illegally dumped materials from city streets within 12 months.

OPW also helped facilitate thousands of community cleanup events.

Josh Rowan, interim director of Oakland Public Works, said, “I want to thank the hardworking staff in our illegal dumping unit who are putting in extra hours in a demanding job to get our streets clean.”