Oakland residents will once again get to safely and legally dispose of large unwanted items at a free drop-off event series known as the Bulky Block Party, the City announced Thursday.
Piloted in 2018 and expanded to a monthly service, the popular Bulky Block Party events had drawn hundreds of residents each month. The events were suspended in March 2020 due to pandemic safety concerns, and with safer practices and circumstances in place, the City is thrilled to offer them once again.
The Bulky Block Party events will occur at a City facility located at 7101 Edgewater Drive in East Oakland. The first event will be held on Saturday, May 22, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. After that, events will be held monthly on the last Saturday of the month, starting June 26, from 9:00am-1:00pm at the same location. The events are open to all Oakland residents.
City staff and community members are asked to wear face coverings and observe all other COVID-19 safety practices at the events.
The series also serves as a promotion of Oakland’s curbside Bulky Pickup service, which all residents are entitled to use for free disposal of large items. To make an appointment contact Waste Management of Alameda County at 510-613-8710 or csnorthbay@wm.com.
“Oakland is officially in spring cleaning mode as we continue making progress to safely build back better,” Mayor Libby Schaaf said. “After more than a year of shelter-in-place, we know this is going to be a spring cleaning season like no other. That’s why we’re ramping up these services, and I encourage all Oakland residents to take advantage of these free dump days at the Bulky Block Party to get rid of unwanted junk and help keep our neighborhoods clean!”
“With the goal keeping our city clean and beautiful, I encourage East Oakland residents to take advantage of this free resource,” Councilmember Treva Reid said. “The Bulky Block Party events will be a great way for neighbors to remove clutter from their homes and reduce illegal dumping, all in a fun and celebratory way!”
“I want to thank the hardworking staff of Oakland Public Works and all our partners for going the extra mile to make the Bulky Block Party a successful event that serves our community,” OPW Director David Ferguson said. “We all love a party, but we also love a job well done. With these events our crews will deliver both.”
Residents who take advantage of the Bulky Block Party events will be welcomed with a smile and information about the Bulky Pickup service, and assisted in unloading their items for disposal.
Terms:
- The Bulky Block Party is open to Oakland residents only – proof of residency such as a household bill will be required (no businesses please).
- Curbside Bulky Pickup service is provided by Waste Management of Alameda County as a part of the City of Oakland’s Zero Waste program. Information about curbside Bulky Pickup service is online at www.oaklandrecycles.com/bulky-pickup-services. Homeowners and property managers may contact Waste Management directly to schedule a bulky pickup by calling (510) 613-8710.
- Renters are entitled to one bulky pickup per living unit per year. To access the service renters can ask their property managers to schedule a pickup. Property managers are required by law to provide access to Bulky Pickup service to tenants. Property managers may also sign a waiver allowing their tenants to schedule pickups directly with Waste Management.
Illegal dumping has grown in Oakland for many years – OPW performs more than 30,000 trash pickups annually, almost triple the work performed just ten years ago. City data show that much of the material dumped on Oakland streets comes from Oakland households, reinforcing how important it is to provide accessible, affordable options for residents to dispose of unwanted items.
City resources to address the issue were significantly cut during the Great Recession, and the impacts were quickly felt as dumping increased. Since then, City and regional leaders, community advocates, and OPW staff have been steadily working to restore and improve those services.
Thursday’s announcement is the latest in an ongoing series of announcements and rollouts of new, restored, or improved services to help address these challenges and provide all communities with a cleaner, healthier Oakland. In April the City announced increased staffing for OPW’s Garbage Blitz Crews, who perform proactive dumping pickup service at known illegal dumping hot spots and corridors.
The City encourages all Oakland residents and businesses to #BeOaktownPROUD by participating in the Oaktown PROUD campaign – by encouraging their neighbors to practice sanitary and safe trash disposal, making sure they have adequate trash service at their homes and places of business, using affordable waste services such as Bulky Pickup Service, attending the Bulky Block Party events, and reporting illegal dumping to OAK311:
- Dial 311 or 510-615-5566
- Report online at 311.oaklandca.gov
- Email OAK311@oaklandca.gov
- Use the free OAK311 mobile app for Apple and Android devices
