San Jose, California, receives recognition for its tactics to combat illegal dumping

Residents of San Jose, California, are noticing a decrease in blight on city streets and open areas as a result of the city’s Environmental Services Department (ESD) efforts to reduce illegal dumping, according to Keep America Beautiful, Stamford, Connecticut.

Keep America Beautiful, a national nonprofit organization, recognized these efforts by awarding the city of San José with its 2016 National Community Improvement award for Litter Prevention.

“This is a tremendous honor by a national organization that underscores our collaborative approach to a complex issue,” says Kerrie Romanow, director of the San Jose ESD, which leads the program.

“Because of our strong internal and community partnerships, we’re seeing visible results that are making our community cleaner and greener and engaging our residents to strengthen our neighborhoods,” Romanow adds.

Keep America Beautiful says, as in many large cities, illegal dumping has been a growing problem in San Jose. A 2015 assessment revealed a 50 percent increase in illegal dumping incidents on public property within the last three years.

An ESD-led citywide task force developed what Keep America Beautiful describes as a “comprehensive program focused on prevention, cleanup, education and community engagement to provide practical and convenient alternatives to reduce illegal dumping.” In also included a coordinated effort to remove items such as abandoned mattresses, furniture and trash from streets and waterways.

“Our program includes free curbside pickup of large items like furniture and appliances, regular cleanup routes in areas with a high incidence of illegal dumping and a new full-time illegal dumping rapid response team to address resident cleanup requests,” Romanow says.

Along with a broad public education campaign, partnerships with neighborhood associations, CommUniverCity (a partnership between the city of San Jose, San JoseState University and downtown neighborhoods that works with low-income communities) and the Behavioural Insights Team through Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities initiative have helped assess the problem, identify solutions and maximize outreach, Keep America Beautiful says.

“I’m not surprised that the city of San Jose won such an award,” says Pete Kolstad, chair of the San Jose Neighborhoods Commission. “Their creativity and enthusiasm have energized San Jose.”

Since July 2016, the city’s illegal dumping rapid response team has removed more than 320 tons of dumped materials and trash, including 1,193 mattresses and 620 shopping carts, from San José streets and public areas, Keep America Beautiful says.

Keep America Beautiful’s National Awards program recognizes the best among its network of community-based affiliates, leading corporate partners and individual volunteers across the country who have committed to delivering cleaner, greener and more beautiful communities.

“It’s my privilege to recognize the city of San Jose for such valuable, mission-based work that helps their community be more socially connected, environmentally healthy, and economically sound,” says Becky Lyons, chief operating officer of Keep America Beautiful.