The city of Oakland is bringing out the big guns in an attempt to clean up the mountains of illegal trash on its streets<\/p>\n
A massive grappling truck \u2014 known as the \u201cLightning Loader\u201d \u2014 has been deployed by local officials to scoop up nearly 34,000 pounds of trash across the city.<\/p>\n
A \u201cLightning Loader\u201d has been deployed to quickly clean up illegal dumping in Oakland. KPIX<\/p>\n
The truck is being used to clean up nearly 34,000 pounds of trash KPIX<\/p>\n
Piles of trash are seen on Oakland\u2019s streets. Facebook\/@City of Oakland<\/p>\n
At 33rd Street and San Pablo Avenue in West Oakland, massive loads of trash piled for two months until the \u201cLightning Loader\u201d quickly clawed everything away.<\/p>\n
Large amounts of concrete and wood were also present, making it difficult for residents to freely walk in front of their homes. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to me. I was so pleased walking out here and seeing all the helpers and the machine going. Yes, it means a lot. It means that my neighborhood is getting better,\u201d one resident told KPIX. <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis changed the game,\u201d one worker said. KPIX<\/p>\n \u201cThis changed the game \u2014 a lot. And it also saves your back for the physical labor. But the scoops, it picks up so much at one time. It makes everything a lot faster,\u201d a worker who operates the lightning loader also said.<\/p>\n What usually takes an agonizing hour of labor only took 10 minutes to clear out, according to the worker.<\/p>\n The city owns two similar trucks, but both are older models that required repairs. As a result, officials began renting out the grappling truck for $7,500 a month and plans to receive another one in the coming days.<\/p>\n What usually takes an agonizing hour of labor only took 10 minutes to clear out, according to the worker. KPIX<\/p>\n To combat illegal dumping, Oakland is also deploying three new environmental enforcement officers to catch suspects. <\/p>\n \u201cWith the cameras that we\u2019re having \u2014 that I\u2019m strategically placing around my district \u2014 where a lot of the dumping happens. We\u2019re starting to make more citations so that people know, don\u2019t come here with your trash,\u201d City Council Member Carroll Fife said.<\/p>\n Along with the illegal dumping, Oakland has an estimated 4,410 homeless people and over 1,900 different locations home to encampments. <\/a><\/p>\n A before view of a location filled with trash Facebook\/@City of Oakland<\/p>\n An after view of a location Facebook\/@City of Oakland<\/p>\n