Tackling trash: Contra Costa, nonprofit unite to target illegal dumping and educate public

by Rachel Ross, Contra Costa Youth Journalism February 16, 2026February 13, 2026

Mattresses, clothing, broken furniture and bags of trash sit alongside a freeway in an undated image. Illegal dumping is an ongoing problem in unincorporated Contra Costa County, where the Public Works Department received more than 8,700 requests for cleanups in 2024 alone. (Dylan Chiu/Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development via CCSpin)

HAVE YOU NOTICED a big piece of trash on the side of the road, like a mattress? You’re not the only one.

Illegal dumping, the practice of unauthorized dumping of waste, is a widespread problem in Contra Costa County and around California.

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