Caltrans wants to extend and expand an initiative that provides free neighborhood dumpster days in Richmond.
With help from Caltrans’ $25,000 Clean California Initiative grant for fiscal year 2022-23, the abatement division for Richmond’s public works department is holding regular dumpster days for local residents.
Formerly called neighborhood cleanup days, the dumpster days are held in partnership with Republic Services, Sims Metal, and each neighborhood’s respective neighborhood council. They enable residents to travel a short distance to drop off unwanted items into dumpsters that are hauled off at no cost. City crews also haul off items that were illegally dumped in public spaces.
Recognizing the positive impact of dumpster days, Caltrans proposes to extend the program for the fiscal year 2023-2024 and double the grant amount to $50,000. The increased funding would “further the scale and reach” to a larger section of Richmond, according to city staff. The most recent grant covered expenses such as labor, equipment, materials, supplies, and dumping fees, according to city documents.
The proposed expansion of the program is set to go before the Richmond City Council on Nov. 28.
According to the city’s website, dumpster days are held on Saturdays in the spring, summer, and fall. Starting in 2022, neighborhood councils received at least one dumpster day each year rather than every other year. Dates and dumpster locations are included in a fliyer that is mailed to homes roughly two weeks in advance of an event.
Contact your neighborhood council to inquire about your neighborhood’s upcoming dumpster day.
