San Francisco Trash Problem

San Francisco Trash Bins, Trash Problems, Littering in SF; How To Report Illegal Dumpings, How To Make San Francisco Cleaner, Reporting Trash 311 App SF

Aug 21, 2025

green public trash can - renaissance style

Be sure to check out my weekly email newsletter with activities, events & things to do each week in the San Francisco Bay Area & beyond; 20,000+ subscribers & counting.

Popular reads by Eddie’s List:

Why Does San Francisco Have So Much Trash?

I have been picking up trash in the city a lot more recently and have thought a lot about the trash problems San Francisco has. Through garbage pickups such as Refuse Refuse and other outlets, I have seen numerous ways that trash problems have mounted in the city, but more so what is working.

During a trash pickup several months ago, I counted the number of cigarette butts found within 10-15 feet of a rear-end exit of a local restaurant. I picked up 235 cigarette butts that were found within two feet of the exit door, along the sidewalk, in the streets next to the curb (see below).

and littered in tree plots in the sidewalk.

I wasn’t planning on counting them but after seeing so many, I knew I had to do this.

I eventually picked up another 200 more butts in nearby intersections and adjacent streets and totaled over 435 cigarette butts collected in 1 hour.

Littering Problem In San Francisco

San Francisco is often depicted as being a messy city with lots of trash but if you haven’t been here since 2022 or rely on biased news stations and newspapers, you might think that is still the case - it’s not. Things have greatly improved since then, but more is still needed.

Rather than focus on the areas and sources that often get the blame, I am going to cover some ways that uniquely contribute to San Francisco.

#1 San Francisco is a windy city

In case you didn’t know, it’s windy AF out here. Trash flies around everywhere including:
- Trash from picnics.
- Debris from deliveries unpacked on city streets.
- Overflowing trashcans.
- Trash cans knocked over.

#2 San Francisco’s street layout makes it harder for trash pick-ups.

Other cities have more grid layouts but thanks to diagonal streets, hills, narrow streets and more, street cleaning is not as efficient as it is in other streets and bins on steep hills are more likely to tip over on windy days when placed out for pick-up.

#3 San Francisco’s street cleaning schedules are inconsistent.

In some neighborhoods, it’s possible to have street cleaning 3-4 times a week (~12-20 times per month) and have a street around the corner get cleaned twice a month (1st and 3rd days of month).

#4 Rise in parklets have made it harder to sweep streets.

This is true of parklets in rectangular setups as sweepers have to turn before arriving close to parklets (they can miss out on 5-10 feet of space).
The problem is worse on streets with diagonal parking and parklets with diagonal setups (usually 10-15 is not swept). One solution here maybe to raise street cleaning ticket fees by 10-15% or so to account for additional space not able to be swept on diagonal streets.

#5 Garbage cans have open tops (overflow) & are knocked over too often

We are seeing more of the big belly bins, but we need more. These trashbins rarely fill up, are harder to knock over and don’t require people to open lids/handles as they often have foot pedals.

How Many Trash Cans Are In San Francisco?

According to the Department of Public Works, San Francisco has over 2,800 trash cans, many similar to the one pictured above. Back in 2007, San Francisco had over 5,000 trash cans.

It would be easy to track 311 complaints of trash and see which areas have the most issues and add bins there.

Why Does San Francisco Remove Trash Bins?

“Please note that Public Works may remove or relocate a public trash can if it becomes a chronic public nuisance, for example, serving as a magnet for illegal dumping.” -SF DPW

How Much Trash Is Produced Each Day In San Francisco?

According to this KPIX article, over 5,000 tons a day.

18,000 tons of trash is dumped onto city streets each year (98 pounds a day).

What Can You Do To Make San Francisco Cleaner?

Adopt a sewer drain or better yet, Adopt A Street!
1. Be on the lookout for neighborhood beautification days.
Sweep sidewalks the night before street (better yet, morning of) sweeping.
Support efforts by Refuse Refuse
1. Dozens of organized cleanings each week across the city.
Report trash via 311 app (use an exact address if there is a problematic household, bar or restaurant; contact the restaurant or cafe first to make sure the managers/owners are aware, if not responsive, then report away).
Request a trash bin for your area if there is none nearby
1. Rally neighbors to get enough signatures and file reports via 311 app, local supervisor. Document trash problem with evidence of immediate areas over time.
Stop tossing cigarette butts into the street.
1. Street cleaning may not come for several days and wind can push it into the streets. Cigarettes can lead to people having less care for neighborhoods and other debris.
Stop overflowing trash cans!
1. Take it home, find another spot, break down trash (bulky items).
Urge city officials to expand sensors.

How Can We Make San Francisco Streets Cleaner?

Adopt more big belly trash cans that have foot pedals that activate compost, trash and recycling bins.
1. Also makes it harder and nearly impossible to spill over trash to grab cans, bottles.
2. This bypasses the reason that SFDPW removed bins (overflow, knocked over, problematic areas).
Ideally, the more people clean up after themselves, others, people will likely stop littering less (happens more often when trash already exists).
Put surveillance cameras in trouble areas, dump sites.
Place more cigarette butt cans on poles around the city, focusing on areas around bars, restaurants, and especially those without trash bins nearby.
Publicize efforts to provide free disposal of bulky items like mattresses, furniture, appliances and more.
Publicize results from the trash detectives. If ineffective, reward people for submitting 311 trash reports with high resolve case percentages.

Have an idea? Leave a note below.

Report Illegal Dumping Sites San Francisco

(different from 311 app); report in progress or past dumping by individuals or businesses

https://www.sf.gov/report-illegal-dumping-activity

Report Garbage Container Issues San Francisco

Report broken garbage cans San Francisco

https://www.sf.gov/report-garbage-container-issues

San Francisco Trash, SF Garbage Bins, San Francisco Trash Service, SF Trash Problems, San Francisco Littering Problem, Report Illegal Dumping San Francisco, Report Broken Trash Containers San Francisco, Where To Dump Mattresses San Francisco, How To Request Bulky Item Pickup San Francisco

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

Discussion about this post