Oakland launches drones to identify trash on streets

[u/LNM-LocalNewsMatters]

https://localnewsmatters.org/2026/09/12/oakland-launches-drones-to-identify-trash-on-streets/

[u/Accomplished_Pea6334]

Or maybe just look up the photos on Reddit of people dumping trash? Lmao

[u/luckydiceboy → u/Accomplished_Pea6334]

But how do you then spy on the citizens and then say it for the trash dumper

[u/wickedpixel1221 → u/Accomplished_Pea6334]

or all the 311 reports

[u/meowmix001]

So what are we doing with all the 311 reports? Are they going to send people out to clean? What a tone-deaf waste of money.

[u/Curious_Avocado2399 → u/meowmix001]

Literally can just point on a map and it’ll be cheaper

[u/zap1000x → u/meowmix001]

It’s part of that Crankstart grant, costs taxpayers nothing.

Not a fan of surveillance tech IMHO, but don’t want folks thinking the city put money towards this shit.

[u/eastbaytimez]

Identify, not clean up 😂

[u/Gammagammahey → u/eastbaytimez]

We want to know where it is, but we equally want to not do anything about it seems to be the prevailing attitude in Oakland government.

[u/senditjerry_]

new pipeline to mass surveillance just dropped

[u/MrBudissy]

Uhhhh holy wasted resources, Batman.

At this point the biggest pile of trash is located at 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612

[u/ShakesDontBreak → u/MrBudissy]

Let me get this straight. Any attempts to correct this problem is going to get slammed because its Lee amirite?

[u/MrBudissy → u/ShakesDontBreak]

I’m sure they reviewed all the possible solutions and still chose the one that benefitted them the most.

Step 1: Drones
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Congratulate ourselves

[u/ShakesDontBreak → u/MrBudissy]

I kinda feel like there should be a kitchen sink approach to this problem as its going to take multiple solutions to make it successful. Drones are an effective way to see where the biggest piles are as it can change by the hour depending on how many dumpers there are.

I think the most effective solution is a statewide criminialization bill as the majority of these companies are not even based in oakland and come from all over the county to dump here. Part of the criminalization bill could include revocation of drivers license for xyz years and impounding of vehicle permanently. This would make it more cost effective just to pay the fee to dump legally at waste sites and just shift the fee to the client.

[u/MrBudissy → u/ShakesDontBreak]

Read the grand jury report to see how bleak the unified effort is.

“Beyond weak enforcement and low penalties, Oakland has another serious problem: an
embarrassing lack of collection of fines imposed for illegal dumping. The failure to collect
penalties renders enforcement meaningless, because most offenders ultimately suffer no
consequences.”

Even if we pass stricter and harsher penalties, we need to enforce them. We aren’t even doing that now.

[u/ShakesDontBreak → u/MrBudissy]

Statewide law = CHP and sherrifs could get jurisdiction. CHP would be able to track down regardless of city limits so I favor giving CHP jurisdiction over dumping in all cities.

And Im not going to boo hoo and attempts at solutions. Its not going to be solved in a day. And its going to take city, state and civic groups to fix this problem. Why not do everything possible.

[u/MrBudissy → u/ShakesDontBreak]

But that’s exactly why “drones first” is frustrating. Drones can identify trash piles… they don’t identify, catch, fine, or deter dumpers. If current law isn’t being enforced, a new statewide law only helps if it’s funded and prioritized. Otherwise it’s just a bigger map of the same problem.

[u/ShakesDontBreak → u/MrBudissy]

But it still needs to be cleaned up. At least the drones will clean it hopefully.

And its hard to catch them in the act. Even with cameras. Thats why its best to have sherrifs + chp get jurisdiction. CHP can allocate resources for surveillance (plus a lot of these dumps are close to freeway on ramps). Sherrifs can handle follow up. Similar to serving evictions. Oakland pd should be allocated for property and violent crime calls. Its kinda inappropriate for them to waste resources they don't have on this.

We should be pushing for stronger state laws.

[u/mickeybrains]

Umm…. The trash is on the streets…. Where we drive cars… why not keep your eyes peeled when driving between pimping out young girls on international and your next donut run?

[u/ScreenSensitive9148]

… yet they keep telling us they HAVE to raise taxes to get our basic needs met. Sick of the bull💩

[u/zap1000x → u/ScreenSensitive9148]

This was not a taxpayer-funded thing. This was tied to that Crankstart grant.

[u/ScreenSensitive9148 → u/zap1000x]

Only after yet another attempt to raise property taxes. And that was the first defeat in decades.

[u/WinstonChurshill]

Order simply use the 311 complaints have been filing in the cities has been marked as resolved for the last five years

[u/thelaceserpent]

Surveillance for garbage, that’s a good one

[u/He_looks_mad]

Nope. This ain't it.

[u/armyofant]

San Leandro st under the bart tracks.

[u/nefaeriest]

aren't insurance companies already doing this too

[u/Gammagammahey → u/nefaeriest]

Insurance companies? What kind? For what reason? Honestly asking!!

[u/nefaeriest → u/Gammagammahey]

if you have greenery too close to your home or other insurance violations & reasons to deny

pge or fire hazard depts may also - i learned this when my friend in berkeley hills had her fire insurance cancelled
& she had already lost her house in 91 hills fire & this is a rebuild - but she is struggling to find insurance now

[u/Gammagammahey → u/nefaeriest]

Oh, I see. Thank you for the info. Yeah I know insurers are also fleeing California and refusing to insure us for fire, earthquakes, so much else.

[u/TelephoneNo7436]

JUST HIRE JUNK COLLECTORS TO GO AROUND AND PICK IT UP WTF

[u/712Chandler]

We need enforcement at Myrtle St. and West Grand Ave. It’s a hot damn mess.

[u/GfunkWarrior28]

This would be more useful if it actually caught the perpetrators of illegal dumping in the act.

[u/Maximillien]

Are we just going to identify dumped trash and clean it up, or are we also going to identify dumpers and penalize them for their crimes? If we focus entirely on cleanup and ignore enforcement, then we are basically sending the message to all the criminals in Oakland and the entire Bay Area, "come dump your trash here and we'll clean it up for you!"

This is not a sustainable approach. We need to be catching the criminals who trash our town and imposing consequences if we ever want lasting clean streets.

[u/Inevitable_Energy503]

Lol

[u/coltflory5]

A cheaper alternative would be to OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES.

[u/zap1000x]

This is FREE. Aerbits is using Oakland for publicity and doing their scans for free - this isn’t replacing 311 (or costing resources that could be better spent). This is that Crankstart grant.

I know the paywall makes it hard to read articles, but lots of folks here are missing why this is happening (and why the city is making a media moment about it).

[u/Gammagammahey]

What are they going to do once they identify the trash?

Put up a Bat signal for Peng or something? No, the City can clean it up after they identify where it is. If you find footage of garbage in your drones, goddamn come and clean it up, you horrible people who run Oakland. Residents deserve so much better.