Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Illegal Dumping topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District 10 supervisors press DPW and Recology on illegal dumping, explore cameras and stronger penalties
Summary
Supervisor Shamone Walton convened a hearing on illegal dumping in District 10 (Bayview). DPW reported heavy volumes and up to $10 million yearly cleanup costs; Recology described field response cadence. Officials outlined camera pilots, permit‑receipt checks for construction debris, targeted outreach and possible stronger enforcement tools; the item was continued for follow‑up.
Supervisor Shamone Walton opened a hearing focused on illegal dumping in District 10 (Bayview), saying trash and debris are pervasive in that area and that the city spends substantial sums to remove abandoned waste.
Larry Stringer, a deputy at the Department of Public Works, summarized causes — insufficient or absent garbage service for some properties, construction debris, and move‑outs — and presented operational responses: twice‑weekly proactive packer runs with Recology in hot‑spot grids, targeted outreach (knocking on 79 properties in a pilot grid), and audits showing many properties with insufficient service. DPW reported it had removed large tonnages in recent months and estimated citywide costs up to $10 million per year. DPW also said it had identified 15 businesses or residents willing to host cameras and is exploring camera pilots and legislative tweaks that would require debris‑disposal receipts before permit sign‑off to help trace construction debris.
Recology described how crews respond to 311 reports: weekday and weekend crews, an early morning shift and a later shift, and a computerized routing system that dispatches work orders. Recology said its data combined with DPW’s showed approximately 2,518 311 reports for illegal dumping in District 10 between Jan. 1 and Mar. 10, 2019, and that stakeouts had identified repeat dumpers in problem locations.
Supervisors asked about enforcement options and costs. DPW noted that other cities have used vehicle forfeiture and other stiff penalties to deter commercial dumpers and said the city will study Los Angeles and Philadelphia practices. Supervisor Walton signaled intent to pursue stronger penalties — higher fines, revocation of business licenses, vehicle forfeiture and building‑permit contingencies for contractors who dump — and to send outreach letters to residents in high‑concentration areas.
The committee continued the item to the call of the chair and requested DPW and Recology provide camera costs, enforcement options and estimated budgetary requirements for a dedicated Bayview crew, while acknowledging current field crews respond quickly when incidents are reported.
