Since 2021, the Urban Compassion Project has picked up 2,700 tons of trash during on Wednesdays and Saturdays. More than 1,400 volunteers have helped in those efforts.<\/p>\n
Since 2024, the city has responded to more than 25,700 service requests and removed over 9,000 tons of illegally dumped trash from streets, according to Lee\u2019s press release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Illegal](\"https:\/\/oaknorth.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/couch-dumped-1024x682.jpg\")
Illegal dumping has been a growing problem in Oakland since the COVID-19 pandemic (File photo).<\/p>\n
One of the factors likely contributing to illegal dumping is the high fees residents and businesses pay for curbside trash pickups, said Supriya Golas, co-founder of the Urban Compassion Project.<\/p>\n
According to the Oakland Recycles, trash pick-up fees for residents range from $55 to $165, considerably higher than fees for Berkeley residents, who pay $45 to $106<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOakland is drowning in trash, and it\u2019s so normalized that we walk past piles of trash near encampments like it\u2019s nothing,\u201d Golas said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lee said she\u2019s planning to launch a second phase of her town beautification project, \u201cKeep the Town Clean,\u201d by having trash removal block parties across the city and monthly business corridor cleanups.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Urban Compassion Project has mobilized trash pickups with help from residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n Eliza Drinker, an Oakland resident and volunteer, found out about the organization when she watched an Instagram video showing the group clearing out bags of trash. Drinker, who regularly volunteers on Saturdays, said she wants the city to be a clean space for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cary Heil spent over two decades working in the Lake Merritt area and noticed illegal dumping becoming a bigger problem. <\/p>\n \u201cResidents need to participate in advocating for cleaner streets,\u201d Heil said, \u201cbecause the City Council doesn\u2019t know what you want them to fix if you don\u2019t advocate.\u201d<\/p>\n