Buried by blight: A San Jose trash removal program may actually be adding to its woes

SAN JOSE’S TRASH pickup program is a success story — so much so that it may be contributing to more illegal dumping.

BeautifySJ, the city’s program tasked with tackling blight from illegal dumping, graffiti, trash and homeless encampments, saw a rise in blight eradication and volunteer participation in 2022-23, according to a report that was scheduled to be presented at the San Jose City Council meeting on Tuesday. The number of participants assisting with trash pickup grew roughly 300 percent last year. Staffing skyrocketed as well from less than 17 full-time employees to more than 91 in four years.