I am wondering if this is more of a free giveaway. I have given many "good" items away by simply leaving it on the sidewalk in front of my house. I hope we don't get this practice confused with the abandon of dumping of junk that no one can use.

Yes Karen thank for encouraging others to illegally dump. If you and other want to leave your unwanted stuff some where leave it in your own yards. Not on the sidewalk or the street. legally you can only do this for bulky pick up.

Illegal dumping would be irresponsibly leaving your still useful belonging on your curb even after it is clear that no one wants the stuff. If no one takes what I leave out I toss it after a few days. Couches that are brought from other neighborhoods and dumped in ours is more like what this complaint forum is for. Or for stuff that is clearly garbage left out with no intention of having anyone else repurpose it. You carry the letter of this too far.

Karen please look up and read City of Oakland Code of Ordinances Chapter 8.11 - Illegal dumping and littering. About 9 pages. These are the rules.

Dear Karen,
I understand the distinction you are making, but ANYTHING left at the curb; on a driveway, on the sidewalk, etc INSTANTLY 'invites' illegal dumping on top of or next to it. The City is drowning in illegal dumping, as volunteer n'hood cleaner-uppers (like David) can readily attest, and this practice of "sharing" only makes that issue worse. If folks want to give away items for "next-best-use", they should make the exchange in person, and NOT park miscellaneous items out side on public property (b/c they're too "busy" to do otherwise?) The issue of illegal dumping should be important enough to ALL Oaklanders to 'do it right' when hoping to pass usable goods on. :-o

City of Oakland Public Works Department addressed this issue on 10/27/2015, service request # 613009.

Thanks for fixing this issue!