Bakersfield is set to receive $1.79 million this week to help fight illegal dumping across the city, with the county awarding the funding at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

City officials say progress has been made over the past five years, but illegal dumping remains a persistent problem in certain areas. Jose Gonzalez, Bakersfield’s code enforcement manager for the past 14 years, said the issue is not citywide but concentrated in specific locations.

“I think we have a big problem with illegal dumping in certain areas. Not throughout all the city. There are certain areas where you see more of it,” Gonzalez said.

One area where dumping has become an issue is between South Martin Luther King Drive and Cottonwood Road. The buildup of trash there has also created problems for firefighters, with the location catching fire multiple times in recent months and releasing dangerous material into the air, making responses more difficult for crews.

Gonzalez said the new funding is a step in the right direction, but more help is needed.

“So I think in order to make a change in regards to illegal dumping we need to have community support,” he said.

Gonzalez urged residents to report illegal dumping to the city, including not only trash but dirt. He said cleanup efforts can be quickly undone.

“But there are areas where we have the area cleaned up and a few days later the conditions are back again on that property,” Gonzalez said.

The county funding is expected to support additional efforts such as big belly bins in downtown Bakersfield, camera surveillance and programs including the Clean City Initiative. Joe Conroy said the initiative has already handled thousands of calls for service.

“Since the Clean City Initiative launched in 2020, the teams have responded to more than 14,000 service requests for illegal dumping and they have actually removed 200,000 bags of trash in that time as well,” Conroy said.

Reports of illegal dumping can be made through the city’s mobile app or by calling the Solid Waste Division at 661-326-3114. The number also includes information on curbside bulky item pickups.