OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Illegal dumping continues to be a problem across Oakland, with trash, furniture and hazardous materials left on streets and vacant lots.

In East Oakland, near King Estate Open Space Park off Interstate 580, one empty lot has become a notorious dumping site. Furniture, a children’s bike and other trash could be seen scattered across the property.

“These individuals are committing crimes against our community. They are dumping things in our streets that the dumps will not take,” Oakland City Councilmember Ken Houston said.

Houston has seen far worse dumped in various parts of Oakland.

“I found a finger one time,” he said.

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Houston said people have also dumped asbestos, needles and other hazardous materials.

“They drop off asbestos, needles, hazardous material, contaminated materials, diapers from children, from bedding, from individuals that are sick and ill… dumped on our streets.”

Oakland is taking a more aggressive approach to illegal dumping, including higher fines and new technology aimed at identifying offenders.

In 2020, Oakland voters approved Measure RR, removing a $1,000 cap on fines for city code violations.

Under new city rules approved this year, fines for illegal dumping can reach $5,000 for a third offense.

Houston said higher fines alone will not solve the problem.

“We have to enforce; we have to put penalties; the city attorney can only give fines; we need to work with the District Attorney that can do prosecution.”

The Oakland City Auditor’s Office released an audit in April examining the city’s efforts to prevent, clean up and enforce illegal dumping.

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The audit found Oakland’s cleanup efforts were effective but said the city could strengthen prevention and enforcement.

During the audit period, the city was not effective at identifying and penalizing people who illegally dump, according to the auditor’s office.

Six illegal dumping cases were referred or forwarded to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2025.

The auditor also estimated 73% of citations received no response or payment during the period reviewed.

The audit found the city’s Environmental Enforcement Unit lacked some policies and referral systems needed to coordinate cases with police and the Finance Department.

Since the audit, Oakland has increased coordination between Public Works, the Police Department and City Attorney’s Office.

Oakland spent about $12 million on illegal-dumping cleanup and $2 million on enforcement during fiscal year 2024-25, according to the auditor.

The audit also found that much of Oakland’s illegal dumping is residential in origin and said legal waste disposal needs to be more affordable and accessible.

During the audit, less than 2% of multifamily residential units used their free bulky-waste pickup appointment, compared with 72% of single-family units.

Since then, the city has increased outreach about free bulky pickups and restarted its free bulky block party program.

Oakland is also piloting aerial imaging technology to identify dumping hotspots and help catch offenders.

The auditor’s office said cameras can provide stronger evidence when illegal dumping is captured, but found some cameras were placed in locations where no dumping occurred, while some footage was too dark to capture activity.

The auditor said the city should measure whether cameras, drones and other strategies result in more citations or other enforcement actions.

The City Auditor’s Office is continuing to follow up on its recommendations and plans to release an update on open recommendations later this month.

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