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County reports hazardous‑waste cleanup and 12,000 work orders for illegal dumping; to pilot mobile cameras and expand Mobile Citizen outreach
Summary
Public Works reported progress on an Altamont Pass hazardous‑waste cleanup and said the county has opened roughly 12,000 work orders for illegal dumping in five years; staff plan trials of trailer‑mounted cameras and to improve Mobile Citizen notifications to complainants.
Alameda County Public Works told the Transportation and Planning Committee on Feb. 3 that cleanup at a heavily contaminated illegal‑dumping site on Altamont Pass is progressing and that the county is piloting technological deterrents to reduce roadside dumping.
Director Will Destin Bett said a consultant characterized the site at 8589 Altamont Pass in 2024, crews tested and segregated liquid wastes (disposal completed in December 2024) and consultants are developing soil‑cleanup specifications; mobile homes and structures are undergoing asbestos and hazardous‑materials testing and contaminated soils will be taken to appropriately permitted hazardous‑waste facilities.
Bett said the county has opened roughly 12,000 work orders related to illegal dumping over the last five years (including soil, mattresses, furniture, tires and TVs) and that crews aim for a 72‑hour removal target when feasible. The county has used berms and other physical deterrence to reduce dumping in some rural locations but acknowledged that illegal dumpers move to adjacent sites.
Public Works is negotiating to trial trailer‑mounted mobile camera systems for two to three months to test effectiveness in catching dumpers; staff emphasized that capturing images is only the first step and that monitoring, law‑enforcement follow‑up and prosecution capacity are necessary for cameras to deter dumping reliably. Supervisors encouraged coordination with district attorneys and described prior camera programs that required active camera monitoring and follow-up to convert images into enforceable cases.
Bett demonstrated the Mobile Citizen mobile app used for public reporting: GPS‑tagged photos create work orders that the county routes to the proper crew or jurisdiction; users who supply contact information receive email updates and status messages; anonymous submissions show only limited status in the app. Staff said they are improving the county permit/complaint portal to provide better status notifications to complainants.
No formal actions were taken; staff said they will pilot mobile cameras within the next month or so and will continue hazardous‑materials site cleanup under regulatory requirements.
