Oakland (Special to ZennieReport.com) – Oakland Public Works crews removed roughly 15 million pounds of waste from city streets and parks from January through November 2025, marking major progress in Mayor Barbara Lee’s commitment to making Oakland the cleanest, safest, greenest city in America. The achievement reflects expanded seven-day operations, strengthened community partnerships, and the citywide rollout of the Mayor’s Keep the Town Clean initiative.
“Clean streets are the foundation for everything else we’re trying to build in Oakland – safer neighborhoods, stronger businesses, community pride,” said Mayor Barbara Lee. “I’m proud of our hardworking city staff, the volunteers showing up at cleanups across all of Oakland, and residents doing their part in their own neighborhoods. When we invest in our crews and work alongside our community partners, real change happens. These results show what’s possible when we all work together.”
The results speak to the dedication of Public Works crews working seven days a week and the power of the Mayor’s Keep the Town Clean initiative to mobilize community action across Oakland.
“Oakland Public Works and our partners have removed approximately 15 million pounds of waste from Oakland streets and parks so far this year,” said Kristin Hathaway, Assistant Public Works Director, Bureau of Environment. “A significant portion of that – about 700,000 pounds – was made possible through the Mayor’s Keep the Town Clean initiative, which established new community partnerships and expanded weekend operations by our crews. We are grateful to the Mayor for prioritizing this critical work and look forward to building on this progress together in the year ahead.”
By the numbers: 2025 waste removal
- 15,102,760 pounds total waste removed from Oakland streets and parks (January-November 2025)
- 711,740 pounds removed through Keep the Town Clean initiative
- Seven-day-a-week operations with expanded weekend staffing
The Mayor Of Oakland Launched The Keep The Town Clean Initiative In June 2025
The Mayor launched the Keep the Town Clean initiative in June 2025, establishing new community partnerships and expanding weekend operations to accelerate cleanup efforts. Over the summer, the program mobilized over 700 volunteers at school sites across the city who removed roughly 30 tons of waste and cleaned 50 miles of streets while earning stipends. Partners in the program included the Meadow Fund, LiveFree, Oakland Private Industries Council, and local faith institutions.
In October, the City announced expanded weekend staffing for illegal dumping crews, helping get more boots on the ground to clear dumped materials faster.
The waste removed in 2025 includes encampment debris, service-request based illegal dumping pickup, and proactive illegal dumping cleanup throughout Oakland’s neighborhoods and parks – clearing everything from furniture and appliances to construction materials and hazardous waste that threaten community health and safety.
The City continues to strengthen its community partnerships through the Adopt-a-Spot and Adopt-a-Drain programs, which provides free tool loans, debris bins, and trash pickup support to hundreds of volunteer community groups. There are currently close to 3,000 sites across Oakland that have been “adopted” by volunteers who regularly clean and maintain them. In January, Mayor Lee will collaborate with Oakland Public Works to engage volunteers at dozens of clean-ups events across the city for MLK Day of Service.
In September, Oakland Public Works partnered with Keep Oakland Beautiful to achieve a Caltrans “Clean California Community” designation, making the City more competitive for state resources.
Why This Oakland News Matters
Oakland’s expanded cleanup operations demonstrate how strategic investments in weekend staffing and community partnerships can deliver measurable results. The 15 million pounds removed this year represents an important start in shifting from reactive cleanup to proactive prevention – building momentum that positions Oakland to tackle illegal dumping more effectively while creating cleaner, safer neighborhoods that reflect the community’s pride and resilience.