Keeping Modesto Clean Takes All of Us

September 23, 2026 - City Manager Blog

Blight continues to be one of the most pressing issues among Modesto residents and illegal dumping is a significant part of the challenge.

Blight can be anything that makes a location appear neglected such as trash, debris and other items that have been improperly discarded along roadsides, waterways, and other areas that are uncontained.

In some cases, the blight is not even coming from Modesto residents. This year alone, the City has issued over five citations to individuals from surrounding communities for illegal dumping in Modesto.

Imagine coming home and finding someone has dumped their trash in your neighborhood. For Modesto residents, these are our neighborhoods, our streets, our parks, and the place we all call home.

Addressing blight is only one part of the solution, the bigger goal for our community is to prevent illegal dumping from happening in the first place, through a coordinated approach alongside our residents, businesses, and community partners.

A Coordinated Approach to Blight

The City of Modesto has been working diligently to address blight concerns through a coordinated approach that combines prevention, enforcement, community partnerships, and convenient disposal options and resources for residents.

Since 2019, the City has implemented a Blight Abatement Strategy that outlines collaboration between the Solid Waste Division, Parks, Recreation & Neighborhoods Department, Modesto Police and Fire Departments, and several community partnerships to reduce blight and improve neighborhoods.

The City has continued to build on these efforts by dedicating additional resources to blight abatement, expanding opportunities for proper disposal and working with community partners to encourage residents to take an active role in keeping Modesto clean.

Measure H has further strengthened our efforts by providing additional staff and abatement teams dedicated to addressing blight across the City. This added capacity has helped improve response times and allows City crews to address problem areas more efficiently while continuing to maintain the services residents rely on.

The City is also using technology and enforcement to deter illegal dumping. Working together, the Solid Waste Division and Modesto Police Department have identified illegal dumping "hot spots" and are installing cameras in areas where dumping occurs frequently. But enforcement is only part of the solution. With hundreds of illegal dumping reports received each month, community members can provide information that may be critical to identifying those responsible.

That is where the community can make a meaningful difference in helping keep Modesto clean.

How Residents Can Help

Residents can help by reporting illegal dumping, tagging, vandalism and other concerns through the City's reporting tool, GoModesto! If you see something, say something. Reporting an issue gives City staff the information they need to address problem areas and respond faster.

Residents can help prevent blight by making sure unwanted items are disposed of properly. The City of Modesto is proud to offer a variety of free disposal and recycling resources, including two bulky-item pickups per year, Drive-Up & Drop-Off events, tire amnesty events, mattress recycling and used oil collection. If you are unsure where to dispose of an item, the Solid Waste Division is always available to help.

Residents can also use the Stanislaus County Household Hazardous Waste Program for free disposal of eligible household hazardous waste such as paints, cleaners, pesticides, batteries, and other products that require special handling.

These resources are designed to make doing the right thing easier, and they are only effective when residents use them.

Community Partners Combatting Blight

Modesto Mo'Beautiful is a community-driven initiative striving to make Modesto cleaner, safer and more beautiful by encouraging collaboration and inspiring residents to take action against blight. Our programs make a bigger impact when we are working together.

The City is proud to partner and/or be affiliated with the following community organizations that further our effort to combat blight.

These organizations offer the community volunteer and/or paid opportunities to combat blight through coordinated clean-ups.

The City of Modesto will continue using every resource available to address blight, from dedicated staff and enforcement to free disposal options, technology and community partnerships. However, we cannot keep Modesto clean alone. It takes all of us, as a community, reporting problems when we see them, disposing of waste responsibly, using the resources available to us, and taking pride in the neighborhoods we call home.

Together, we can keep the momentum going and make a lasting difference in the safety, cleanliness, and beauty of Modesto. This is Our City. Our Future.