Oxnard City reports large trash volumes, illegal dumping and vehicle/recylcing challenges

Michael Wolf, public works director for Oxnard City, told the public works workshop that Environmental Resources manages residential collection, a Del Norte transfer station (MRF) and outreach programs while handling large volumes of waste and a persistent illegal‑dumping problem.

Wolf said environmental services serves about 41,000 customers, that the city handled more than 545,000,000 pounds of municipal solid waste and more than 45,000,000 pounds of recycled material and organics (figures cited for the stated multi‑year period). He said the division employs about 182 staff and manages a vehicle fleet that includes collection trucks and MRF equipment.

Why it matters: solid‑waste services are essential city operations with costs tied to vehicle fleets, MRF machinery and state mandates such as organic recycling and vehicle zero‑emission requirements.

Challenges Wolf cited included aging MRF equipment and parts obsolescence (requiring custom fabrication), state mandates to transition some vehicles to zero‑emission models, widespread illegal dumping (he cited more than 33,000 work orders between July 2021 and August 2025 and nearly 10,000,000 pounds of illegally dumped material removed in that period) and the need for customer compliance with organic recycling rules.

Wolf said the division conducts outreach, citywide drop‑off events, neighborhood collection days and a 3‑1‑1 green team program to respond to illegal dumping. He recommended expanding prevention and response capacity, investing in staff training, developing a long‑term asset management plan, and seeking outside funding to minimize rate impacts.

Ending: Staff said meeting new state mandates and replacing aging equipment will require planning and likely additional funding.