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Clean City Commission chair Steve Marzoff urges Richmond to tackle illegal dumping, expand recycling
Summary
Clean City Commission chair Steve Marzoff told the Governmental Operations Committee the commission’s 2026 priorities include reducing illegal dumping — citing an incident of 249 tires dumped at United Nations Church — expanding school and multifamily recycling, managing tree debris, and launching an April 'Richmond Shines Month' with Richmond Tool Bank.
Steve Marzoff, chair of the Clean City Commission, told the Governmental Operations Committee that the commission is refocusing on policy while continuing hands-on cleanups and public outreach.
Marzoff outlined four priorities for 2026: curb illegal dumping, expand recycling in schools and small businesses, establish sustainable handling of tree and yard debris, and require recycling capability for multifamily housing. "We need to find a way to to reduce this illegal dumping and to, go after those people who are doing it," Marzoff said, citing a recent incident in which "249 tires dumped one Saturday night," which he described as a shock to the local congregation.
Why it matters: large illegal-dumping events create cleanup costs for the city, cause neighborhood blight and public-health concerns, and are a recurring local budget pressure. Marzoff said the commission has discussed cameras with the Department of Public Works and wants to target repeat-offender areas.
Marzoff also pressed for more consistent recycling and composting in schools, saying several teachers and custodians currently handle recycling informally rather than through a schoolwide system. He described an example from Swansbury Elementary where food waste from students who receive free lunches is thrown away because schools lack composting options.
On small-business recycling, Marzoff described cost and space barriers for an owner at Gramophone Winery who said a full commercial recycling dumpster and enclosure would cost tens of thousands of dollars and eliminate parking spaces; Marzoff said a solution could be to provide a residential-style rolling can that the business could pay for and access existing route service.
The commission also flagged the growing need to manage tree debris as the city loses more trees to climate-related stresses; Marzoff said Public Works has secured funds to begin chipping but the city needs a sustainable recurring plan. He said the commission is coordinating with the offices of sustainability and urban forestry and noted he communicates regularly with Laura Thomas, director of the offices of sustainability.
Marzoff closed by presenting a proposal from the Richmond Tool Bank to declare April "Richmond Shines Month" and partner on citywide cleanup events. He invited input and direction from council and the administration and said the commission hopes to fill one remaining vacancy in the 9th District.
The committee thanked the commission for the report and encouraged further coordination with other bodies and staff on funding and program design.
