Pittsburg City Council Takes Major Step in Combating Illegal Dumping

Fines for illegal dumping will be increased to $1,000 per incident – the maximum allowed by the statePhoto byCity of Pittsburg

Ordinance introduced by the Pittsburg Legislators seeks to curb illegal dumping by increasing fines and holding owners and operators of vehicles used to dump accountable.

PITTSBURG, CA – The City of Pittsburg is taking action to combat illegal dumping within the East Bay city.

Under the adopted ordinance, fines for illegal dumping will be increased to $1,000 per incident – the maximum allowed by the state – and the City will maintain the authority to hold the owner and/or operator of a vehicle used in the commitment of illegal dumping accountable for citations and the cost of cleanup.

The City will utilize its vast network of automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras that may capture the license plate of a vehicle used to illegally dump debris and lead officials to the registered owner. In cases of ongoing dumping, the cost of abatement of a property could be charged to the property owner.

“Illegal dumping has increasingly become an issue throughout the region, and the City of Pittsburg spends $100,000 annually on the cleanup of illegally dumped debris,” said Jordan Davis, Director of Community and Economic Development. “Items dumped are often large, heavy, maybe hazardous or contain hazardous materials requiring a lot of processing to pick those up and also to dispose of them.”

The City estimated that in 2022 there were approximately 288 cubic yards of debris discarded.Photo byCity of Pittsburg

City Manager Garrett Evans said as far back as 2017, the city picked up 632 mattresses and 361 couches or sofa chairs in a year. Davis said in 2021 the City estimated there were more than 1,200 tons or 306 cubic yards of debris, while in 2022 that number was approximately 288 cubic yards.

The ordinance becomes effective on April 18, 2024.

For more information, contact the City of Pittsburg Community and Economic Development Department at (925) 252-4039 or visit pittsburgca.gov.

About The City of Pittsburg

Incorporated in 1903, Pittsburg is located on the south shore of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in Northern California, 30 miles east of San Francisco.

The City has a population of 77,752, and operates under the council/manager form of government with its own Police, Public Works, Community and Economic Development, Finance, Community Services, and Recreation Departments, as well as its own utility divisions operating as the Pittsburg Power Company and Pittsburg Water.

With more than 5,000 new housing units in the development pipeline, as well as large industrial corridors slated for redevelopment, Pittsburg is one of the fastest-growing cities in Contra Costa County. For more information