Agenda Item
7 24-0405 Subject: Stormwater Trash Load Reduction Compliance Informational Report
From: Oakland Public Works, Bureau Of Design And Construction
Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report On The Status Of The City's Compliance With The Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit (MRP) Trash Reduction Requirements.
We've got a trash problem - and we need to do something about it.
As a former City employee and community volunteer, I've led dozens of trash clean ups throughout our City. These volunteer efforts eliminate tons and tons of trash and they are important, but clean ups alone cannot keep up with the vast amounts of litter on our streets.
Trash capture devices are the most efficient and effective way to reduce trash from getting into the Bay or onto our shorelines. Let's be responsible and take accountability for our trash with these wise infrastructural investments, as well as sufficient staffing to clear the trash when it fills the devices. This progress report reflects good work by the Public Works but we must increase our efforts and increase the number of trash capture devices.
Wildlife throughout the region are depending upon our action.
Casey Farmer
Community Advocate
Sierra Club Member
Dear Council Members Kalb, Reid, Jenkins and Gallo, and Directors Duffey & Kashiwagi,
Thank you for having this discussion about Oakland's Trash Reduction Program today in your Public Works Committee meeting. The trash on our shorelines is an eyesore at best, and an enduring environmental hazard. Oakland needs to do better. Our watershed program staff are dedicated, knowledgeable, and capable. Please support them by providing adequate funding for more full time employees for the Oakland Watershed Program.
I am one of hundreds of Bay Area residents who regularly volunteer to clean up the shoreline and streets of Oakland. Have you seen the Reddit postings by Deng? People are calling for him to be Mayor based on his singlehandedly collecting tens of garbage bags of trash at a time. But these unreimbursed efforts by citizens only go so far; we cannot keep up with the amount of trash being generated. That is why major improvements to our City's trash capture AND some program to inform the public of the harm they are causing by littering is needed. How about some "Don't Trash (Oakland)" signs in multiple languages with strong intercultural graphics? By educating the public, we can address part of the problem at its root.
Thank you for your efforts, they are appreciated and necessary.
Thank you,
Sincerely, Lauren Blanchard
2001 18th Ave