Illegal dumping in Los Angeles soars in first two months of 2025

Reports of illegal dumping in Los Angeles soared in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year, according to data compiled by Crosstown LA.

There were 22,046 reports of trash, furniture and other debris discarded illegally in the city in January and February, up 36%, according to the data news outlet. That’s the highest number for that period dating back to at least 2018, based on publicly available data from the MyLA311 service.

“While illegal dumping may bring to mind a few trash bags dropped on a corner, it often means piles of construction debris, or even hazardous waste, tossed by a person or business seeking to avoid paying proper disposal fees,” Crosstown notes in its report. “Materials are frequently dropped on sidewalks, in alleys or on vacant lots under cover of darkness.”

In L.A.’s Council District 8, which encompasses much of South L.A., illegal dumping reports more than doubled from 2,118 in January-February 2024 to 3,329 in the first two months of this year.

“This situation is unacceptable,” said Council President and District 8 representative Marqueece Harris-Dawson told Crosstown LA. “We are going after the big fish—the businesses trying to avoid construction debris and waste removal fees by illegally dumping their trash and hazards in our communities. We are absolutely going to make examples out of them and do it swiftly and very publicly until we shift this culture of anything goes, including profiting at all costs without regard for thy neighbor.”

Van Nuys has seen the most illegal dumping reports so far this year, with 845. Click here to read Crosstown LA’s full report>>>